Ghana has launched a national dialogue aimed at reshaping its decentralisation policy and strengthening local governance, with Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang calling for reforms that bring power closer to the people.
Opening the forum in Accra, the Vice-President said the government is finalising a new decentralisation policy and strategy that will transfer more authority, functions and responsibilities from the central government to sub-regional levels.
“When completed, the policy and strategy will provide a forward-looking framework for transferring power, authority, functions and responsibilities from the centre to the sub-regional level. I expect that this dialogue will not only enrich the content of the policy but also help shape its implementation in concrete ways,” she said on Thursday, September 25.
The event brings together government officials, development partners, traditional authorities, civil society, the private sector and citizens. It is expected to guide Ghana’s decentralisation reforms over the next five years and redefine how governance is delivered nationwide.
The Vice-President urged participants to ensure that lessons from the dialogue translate into tangible improvements in service delivery, stressing efficiency, inclusivity and accountability as key priorities.
“Let us envision a Ghana where governance is closer to the people, where institutions are responsive, and where citizens are active participants in shaping their paths,” she said.
The dialogue, according to government, will serve as a platform to consolidate reforms already being coordinated by decentralisation committees and secretariats across the country.
