Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has engaged development partners and heads of departments and agencies to strengthen collaboration and advance Ghana’s decentralisation and local development agenda.
The engagement, held in Accra under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Local Governance and Inclusive Development,” provided a platform for stakeholders to review ongoing programmes, assess progress and discuss challenges affecting implementation and funding.
Mahama Ayariga Pushes Stronger Decentralisation Collaboration
Mahama Ayariga said Ghana could benefit not only from the financial resources of development partners but also from their knowledge, technical expertise and practical experiences from countries where decentralisation systems have delivered effective public services.
He called for stronger partnerships to share knowledge, build consensus and identify practical approaches to improving local governance across Ghana.
Local Development Programmes Under Review
The meeting enabled government officials and development partners to examine ongoing programmes and identify areas requiring stronger coordination.
Key areas highlighted include local revenue mobilisation, service delivery, environmental sanitation, digital transformation and local economic development.
The discussions also focused on implementation and funding challenges that could affect the delivery of development programmes at the local level.
Focus on Stronger Local Economies
Ayariga emphasised the importance of strengthening local economic development, particularly as young people and women increasingly look to local governments for opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
He also expressed concern about the dependence of many Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on central government transfers and development partner funding.
According to the Minister, local authorities need to work towards becoming more economically functional and capable of supporting development within their respective communities.
Transparency and Public Participation
The Minister has also announced plans for regulations and directives requiring assembly meetings to be broadcast live on local FM stations.
The proposed measure is intended to improve transparency and accountability while giving residents greater access to proceedings and decisions of their assemblies.
Ayariga argued that assemblies perform legislative functions at the local level and their proceedings should therefore be accessible to the communities they serve.
Building Capacity at the Local Level
The Minister further called for targeted capacity-building for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and assembly personnel.
He noted that some local authorities may face challenges not because of unwillingness to perform, but because they lack adequate capacity, systems and support.
Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development
Development partners and heads of agencies expressed readiness to sustain dialogue, share knowledge and improve coordination around Ghana’s local development priorities.
The engagement is expected to lead to further technical discussions as stakeholders work to strengthen decentralisation, improve local service delivery and promote inclusive development.