Participation’s limits: Tracing the Contours of Participatory Water Governance in Accra, Ghana, Cynthia Morinville and Leila Harris

In the context of increasing focus on participatory resource governance, this chapter focuses on the case of Local Water Boards in underserved areas of Accra, Ghana. Our analysis suggests that the boards are serving several important functions, for instance offering some transparency in terms of institutional pathways or predictability with respect to water pricing.  However, there are also clear limits of the boards, especially regarding reliance on voluntary labor or overall sustainability. We also argue that in a context of hegemonic focus on participation, it is important to also consider diverse and informal modes of engagement in the water realm.