By Nasrullah Ibn Mutawakil
In a bid to enhance inclusive growth and drive economic transformation at the local level, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, convened a consultative meeting with key experts on Local Economic Development (LED).
The meeting brought together stakeholders from government institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector to deliberate on strategies to strengthen the implementation and coordination of Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives across the country.
The discussions focused on ensuring that the proposed LED interventions are aligned with stakeholder needs and national economic priorities. Participants also examined existing gaps in support services for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, producer groups, traders, and other key local economic actors. The forum provided an opportunity to collate practical and inclusive actions to enhance LED policy formulation and implementation.
This stakeholder engagement comes at a critical time, as the government finalises the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2025–2029). One of the core thematic areas of the national policy is Local Economic Development—a key driver aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship, enhancing productivity, and generating sustainable employment, particularly for women, youth, and other marginalised groups.
LED, as envisioned, seeks to build the economic capacity of local communities by promoting micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) within an enabling and business-friendly environment provided by the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Ultimately, it aims to improve the quality of life for all citizens by fostering economic inclusion and resilience from the ground up.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all participants to work collaboratively towards building a robust and inclusive LED ecosystem that contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s broader development agenda.
