By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, March 7, GNA – Dr. Gameli Dominic Hoedoafia, a decentralisation and local governance expert, has officially assumed office as the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).
He took over from Mr. Dennis Miracle Aboagye, the outgone Executive Secretary, after being appointed by President John Dramani Mahama.
In a handing-over ceremony at the IMCCoD Secretariat, Dr. Hoedoafia affirmed his commitment to teamwork, innovation, and transformational strategies aimed at positioning the IMCCoD as the leading coordinating body in Ghana’s decentralisation process.
Key among his priorities, Dr. Hoedoafia stated, was the review and finalisation of the Draft National Decentralisation Policy (2025-2029), which he described as the blueprint for Ghana’s decentralisation reforms.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration with development partners through bilateral dialogues and revitalising the Decentralisation Sector Working Group.
Dr. Hoedoafia pledged to enhance partnerships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve local governance and service delivery.
He said that he would institutionalise the National Decentralisation Dialogue, provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, perspectives, and best practices in decentralisation.
“My plan is to advocate for the enactment of the District Assemblies Borrowing Act to strengthen fiscal decentralisation, ensure the full operationalisation of L.I. 1961, and facilitate the devolution of government departments to the District Assemblies,” he remarked.
Dr. Hoedoafia said that he would prioritise the decentralisation of key sectors such as Education and Health, aiming to improve service delivery at the local level and enhance governance efficiency.
He urged IMCCoD staff to uphold excellence, dedication, and professionalism in their work.
Dr. Hoedoafia reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening local governance structures to make decentralisation in Ghana inclusive, participatory, and development driven.
“With this renewed vision and leadership, the IMCCoD is poised to advance Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, fostering a governance system that is responsive, transparent, and accountable to the needs of local communities,” he said.
Mr. Miracle Aboagye, the outgone Executive Secretary, lauded his successor’s vast experience and expertise in decentralisation and local governance.
He called on the Secretariat’s staff to extend their full cooperation and support to ensure the successful implementation of government policies in the sector.
The IMCCoD, established in 2010, serves as the central institutional mechanism for inter-sectoral policy coordination on decentralisation and local governance.
Its mandate is to ensure that Ghana’s local government system is effectively administered to drive rapid development through accelerated decentralisation and efficient service delivery.
GNA