By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to making decentralisation a central pillar of Ghana’s national development agenda.
She made this statement when she chaired the maiden meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, at Adu Lodge in Accra.
The meeting brought together ministers, heads of institutions, and key stakeholders responsible for driving reforms under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
In her address, the Vice President said decentralisation is essential for accountable governance and improved service delivery.
She stressed the urgent need to complete the transfer of administrative and functional powers in the health, education and roads sectors, noting that the credibility of Ghana’s decentralisation programme depends on progress in these areas.
The meeting centred on three key objectives: reactivating the IMCC as the highest national platform for coordinating decentralisation, considering the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030), and setting policy direction on coordination issues such as sustainable funding, sector alignment, and legislative reforms.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies. particularly the Ministry of Financeto take leadership in implementing decentralisation reforms within their various mandates.
She emphasised that a united government approach is crucial for attracting development partner support and ensuring that “funds follow functions.”
Participants also received presentations on the decentralisation strategy, fiscal decentralisation, local economic development, and ongoing legislative reforms. The committee discussed how ministries can be realigned for more effective local governance.
The IMCC resolved to prioritise the decentralisation of the Education, Health and Roads sectors and committed to achieving significant progress within the first year of the new policy’s implementation.
According to the committee, decentralisation should directly benefit citizens by enhancing service delivery, deepening local democracy, and promoting inclusive national development.
