By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Accra, May 20, GNA – Government is developing a new National Decentralisation Policy framework for 2026-2030 to strengthen accountability, citizen participation and effective service delivery at the local level.
The policy, themed: “Resetting Democratic Decentralisation for Accountable Public Service Delivery and Accelerated Local Level Development,” seeks to make local governance more inclusive, transparent, technology-driven and responsive to citizens’ needs.
Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye, Member of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) Technical Committee, announced this at a sensitisation and policy orientation workshop on decentralisation and local governance for media practitioners in Accra on Tuesday.
She said the framework was developed after extensive consultations in 2025 following the expiration of the previous decentralisation policy in 2024, explaining that changing national priorities, emerging governance challenges, technological advancement and increasing public demand for accountability necessitated the review.
“We needed to put new energy and revitalise decentralisation so that citizens would become excited again about local governance and participation.
“If decentralisation works at the local level, then national governance should also work,” she said.
Dr Aboagye said the policy aligned with Government’s broader development agenda, including sanitation improvement, job creation, solid waste management and the implementation of the 24-hour economy initiative.
She said the overarching vision was to build “a transformed, inclusive local governance system that empowers communities, enhances accountable service delivery and drives equitable development in Ghana.”
Dr Aboagye said the implementation period from 2026 to 2030 was aligned with Ghana’s medium-term development planning cycle and the Sustainable Development Goals.
She outlined six thematic areas under the policy as political, administrative and fiscal decentralisation, decentralised planning, local economic development and popular participation.
On political decentralisation, Dr Aboagye said the policy would deepen local democracy, strengthen accountability and increase citizen participation, while promoting gender equality, disability inclusion and the involvement of marginalised groups in local decision-making.
“Participation in district-level elections has hovered around 35 per cent for years, and we want to improve that by getting more citizens, especially young people, involved in governance,” she said.
She said the policy would integrate key public services, including health and education, under coordinated local government structures, while improving staff capacity and digital literacy.
Dr Aboagye said Government would prioritise fiscal decentralisation by increasing local fiscal autonomy, strengthening internally generated funds, diversifying revenue sources and promoting green and blue economy opportunities at the district level.
She said the framework would also encourage districts to drive local industrialisation, create jobs and support climate-resilient livelihoods.
Dr Aboagye said citizens would be treated as “co-creators” of development through enhanced public participation mechanisms, including digital feedback platforms, mobile engagement tools and community accountability systems.
She said the policy identified six cross-cutting imperatives, namely climate change and environmental management, gender and social inclusion, technology and innovation, mindset and ethics, the 24-hour economy and safety and security.
Dr Aboagye said the success of the reforms would depend on collaboration among ministries, departments, agencies, local assemblies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners.
She acknowledged possible challenges, including funding constraints, capacity gaps and resistance to reforms, but expressed confidence in the successful implementation of the policy through collective commitment.
Dr Aboagye urged the media to simplify governance issues for public understanding, monitor district-level performance and promote civic participation.
Dr Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, Executive Secretary of the IMCC on Decentralisation, urged the media to focus more on governance and service delivery issues at the local level by engaging metropolitan, municipal and district authorities directly.
He said effective decentralisation depended on strong public scrutiny and citizen engagement within local communities.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
[email protected]
