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Ghana must shift from developing decentralisation policies to delivering measurable outcomes at the local level, Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation, Dr Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, has said.
Speaking at a high-level IMCC meeting chaired by Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Hoedoafia said the approval of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework for 2026 to 2030 has established the policy direction needed to advance Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.
He, however, stressed that the immediate priority should be translating the framework into coordinated action, institutional reforms and tangible results for communities.
Focus shifts to implementation
According to Hoedoafia, the approval of the new framework marks an important transition from policy development to implementation.
“The policy framework has provided the direction. Our immediate task is to translate that direction into coordinated action, institutional change and measurable results,” he said.
He disclosed that the IMCC Secretariat has continued engaging Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders since the previous committee meeting to prepare the institutional and administrative groundwork for implementation.
Progress, he said, has particularly been recorded in areas relating to legislative and administrative reforms, which are expected to strengthen the structures supporting decentralised governance.
Citizen participation critical to reforms
Hoedoafia also highlighted the importance of public awareness and stakeholder engagement in ensuring that decentralisation reforms achieve their intended objectives.
He said citizens must understand the reforms and have meaningful opportunities to participate in the process, arguing that public involvement would help strengthen ownership and accountability at the local level.
“We have also continued to strengthen public awareness and engagement on decentralisation reforms, recognising that effective decentralisation requires not only institutional arrangements but also informed citizen participation, ownership and accountability,” he emphasised.
The focus on citizen participation places greater emphasis on ensuring that decentralisation is not limited to institutional restructuring but also delivers a governance system in which communities can actively engage with local decision-making.
Coordinated action and sustainable financing needed
The Executive Secretary said the decentralisation programme has entered a more critical phase because of its cross-sectoral nature.
He explained that implementation cannot be achieved by individual government institutions acting independently. Instead, Ministries, Departments and Agencies must align their mandates, responsibilities and actions around the objectives of the national framework.
Hoedoafia also identified predictable and sustainable financing as a key requirement for successful implementation.
“This is particularly important because decentralisation is cross-sectoral, and its success depends on aligned mandates and actions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as effective coordination and predictable, sustainable financing.”
IMCC seeks strategic policy direction
Hoedoafia said the issues currently before the IMCC are designed to establish the institutional structures and mechanisms required to deliver the objectives of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework.
He noted that the Technical Committee has already reviewed the key matters and is presenting them to the IMCC for strategic direction and policy decisions.
“The Technical Committee has considered these matters and is presenting them to the IMCC for strategic policy direction and decision,” he added.
The latest discussions signal a renewed focus on implementation as Ghana seeks to translate its decentralisation framework into institutional reforms, stronger coordination and measurable improvements in local governance.
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