The illusion of democratic representation in the REDD readiness consultation process in Ghana

Ghana claims to have developed its REDD Readiness Plan through a highly participatory and consultative process using the notion of stakeholder representation in designing the institutional architecture for participation.The paper argues that representation is an illusory feature of the REDD participatory process in Ghana because it is used symbolically rather than substantively . The paper also shows that there seems to be a fundamental gap on democratic notions of responsiveness and accountability between scholars and authorities of programmes like REDD. Moreover, the paper demonstrates the struggle by REDD authorities to define the institutional architecture for the representatin of local people and civil society in national processes like REDD that can deliver responsiveness and accountability in practice.