By Rachel Quartey
The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation has renewed its commitment to accelerating the implementation of Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, with emphasis on effective devolution, sustainable financing and stronger citizen participation.
The Committee says deepening democratic decentralisation and strengthening the local governance system are critical to promoting accountable governance, responsive public service delivery and accelerated development at the local level.
This was reaffirmed at a high-level meeting of the IMCC held at Peduase Lodge and chaired by the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
The meeting reviewed key policy, institutional, legislative, financing and implementation priorities required to advance the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework 2026–2030.
A major focus was the need to move from policy formulation to concrete implementation at the local level.
The IMCC also considered measures to strengthen the financial capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, including increased allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund, improved internally generated revenue and efforts to expand the fiscal space available for local development and service delivery.
The Committee further reviewed progress towards the devolution of key sectors, particularly education, health and roads.
It noted that the transfer of functions to the local level must be accompanied by adequate resources, institutional capacity and accountability mechanisms to ensure improved service delivery.
The Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, briefed the Committee on ongoing efforts to create the conditions for effective implementation of the decentralisation framework
These include legislative and administrative reforms involving the review of the Local Governance Act, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act and the legislative framework governing the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals.
The IMCC also stressed the importance of public awareness and citizen engagement, saying effective decentralisation requires informed participation, ownership and accountability.
The Committee said it would continue to provide strategic policy coordination and oversight to accelerate implementation of the 2026–2030 framework.
It reaffirmed that the decentralisation agenda requires a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving central government institutions, the Local Government Service, MMDAs, development partners, civil society, traditional authorities, academia and citizens.
The IMCC said its ultimate goal is to make decentralisation a practical instrument for inclusive development, accountable governance and improved public service delivery across Ghana.
“The successful implementation of Ghana’s decentralisation agenda requires a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” the Committee stated.
The IMCC, established under Section 204 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), serves as the key national institutional mechanism for inter-sectoral policy coordination on decentralisation and the decentralised local governance system.
