Implementation of policy is a major way through which governments of countries strive to satisfy the needs and aspirations of their citizens. Public policy implementation process seeks to actualize the blue print of ideas carefully designed to solve or satisfy public interest. It behooves on every responsible government to meet the needs of their citizens, hence the need to adopt and implement policies.

          The study employed qualitative research method to assess policy implementation process in Ghana in order to have thorough understanding of policy implementation process, with specific focus on policy failure, through the use of Kwame Nkrumah’s industrialization policy as a case study. Structured interview was deployed as a mean of soliciting primary data from respondents connected to the arena of policy implementation in order to corroborate secondary data collected through qualitative means.

        This particular study seeks to assess and demystify public policy implementation process in Ghana in order to understand why some public policies do fail. Assessment of public policy is very relevant as it seeks to arm policy makers with useful information and guide that will be much needed in order to prevent policies from failing. It also sought to identify ways by which the causes of the policy failure can be mitigated.  The issue of public policy failure is a major drain on government resources in Ghana. The study has revealed amongst other things some of the main factors responsible for public policy failure in Ghana. The chief conspirators in this regard include corruption, lack of proper stakeholder engagement, partisanship, absence of effective supervision, mismanagement, unfavorable government policies, politicization of public policies in Ghana. There is too much politicization of public policies in Ghana. Policies are usually adopted and implemented as brain child of ruling parties, which are usually used as means of political capital. This situation has led to lack of mass support for policies and disinterest of subsequent governments to continue with existing policies or complete policies initiated by previous governments. It is also revealed that a gap in policy implementation alone does not lead to policy failure, but also, if the prevailing economic conditions in the country are not conducive for the implementation of a policy, that can also lead to policy failure.

          The study has also explored the various means by which the issue of policy failure could be dealt with in the country. It was proposed that, proper and robust legal frameworks should be instituted in order to serve as a bulwark against willful termination of succeeding governments just for the sake of political expediency. Application of sanctions against corrupt public officials in a form of custodial sentences and other punitive measures will instill discipline and serve as deterrence to other officials who may want to engage in corrupt activities that may ruin the sustainability of public policies in the country.

          The study has been very revealing as it has brought to light very important facts that could serve as useful guide to policy makers and even the academia as a whole in the future, with respect to policy implementation. Lack of public private partnership has been identified as a prime trigger of policy failure.

          As an antidote to policy failure, putting up of robust legislative and regulatory measures in place will go a long way to curb a situation whereby ruling governments place their parochial partisan interest above that of the state, which culminates in willful termination of policies as a result of political expediency.

          The study has recommended for the formulation of national development plan that will be approved by the national legislative assembly, that will not be abrogated unilaterally by any party in government for their parochial partisan interest.

Implementation of policy is a major way through which governments of countries strive to satisfy the needs and aspirations of their citizens. Public policy implementation process seeks to actualize the blue print of ideas carefully designed to solve or satisfy public interest. It behooves on every responsible government to meet the needs of their citizens, hence the need to adopt and implement policies.

          The study employed qualitative research method to assess policy implementation process in Ghana in order to have thorough understanding of policy implementation process, with specific focus on policy failure, through the use of Kwame Nkrumah’s industrialization policy as a case study. Structured interview was deployed as a mean of soliciting primary data from respondents connected to the arena of policy implementation in order to corroborate secondary data collected through qualitative means.

        This particular study seeks to assess and demystify public policy implementation process in Ghana in order to understand why some public policies do fail. Assessment of public policy is very relevant as it seeks to arm policy makers with useful information and guide that will be much needed in order to prevent policies from failing. It also sought to identify ways by which the causes of the policy failure can be mitigated.  The issue of public policy failure is a major drain on government resources in Ghana. The study has revealed amongst other things some of the main factors responsible for public policy failure in Ghana. The chief conspirators in this regard include corruption, lack of proper stakeholder engagement, partisanship, absence of effective supervision, mismanagement, unfavorable government policies, politicization of public policies in Ghana. There is too much politicization of public policies in Ghana. Policies are usually adopted and implemented as brain child of ruling parties, which are usually used as means of political capital. This situation has led to lack of mass support for policies and disinterest of subsequent governments to continue with existing policies or complete policies initiated by previous governments. It is also revealed that a gap in policy implementation alone does not lead to policy failure, but also, if the prevailing economic conditions in the country are not conducive for the implementation of a policy, that can also lead to policy failure.

          The study has also explored the various means by which the issue of policy failure could be dealt with in the country. It was proposed that, proper and robust legal frameworks should be instituted in order to serve as a bulwark against willful termination of succeeding governments just for the sake of political expediency. Application of sanctions against corrupt public officials in a form of custodial sentences and other punitive measures will instill discipline and serve as deterrence to other officials who may want to engage in corrupt activities that may ruin the sustainability of public policies in the country.

          The study has been very revealing as it has brought to light very important facts that could serve as useful guide to policy makers and even the academia as a whole in the future, with respect to policy implementation. Lack of public private partnership has been identified as a prime trigger of policy failure.

          As an antidote to policy failure, putting up of robust legislative and regulatory measures in place will go a long way to curb a situation whereby ruling governments place their parochial partisan interest above that of the state, which culminates in willful termination of policies as a result of political expediency.

          The study has recommended for the formulation of national development plan that will be approved by the national legislative assembly, that will not be abrogated unilaterally by any party in government for their parochial partisan interest.