Omanghana
The Government of Ghana is developing a new decentralisation policy and strategy aimed at transferring real power, authority, and responsibilities from the central government to local and sub-national levels, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has announced.
Speaking at the opening of the National Dialogue on Decentralisation and Responsive Governance in Accra on Wednesday, the Vice President said the new policy will guide Ghana’s decentralisation agenda over the next five years and help shape the way citizens are governed.
“I expect that this dialogue will not only enrich the content of the policy but also help shape the implementation in concrete ways,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang said.
She explained that the process would not only determine how power is distributed but also influence how citizens view themselves and their role in national development.
“The process will also shape how we see ourselves as a nation,” she added.
The Vice President stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that lessons drawn from the dialogue are translated into meaningful reforms that improve service delivery across the country. These reforms, she noted, will prioritise efficiency, inclusivity, and accountability in local governance systems.
“Let us envision a Ghana where governance is closer to the people, where institutions are responsive, and where citizens are active participants in shaping their paths,” she urged.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang reaffirmed the government’s continued support for the Committee and Secretariat coordinating the decentralisation reforms, noting that they are being empowered to deliver on their mandates as required by law.
She described the dialogue as an important opportunity for collective national reflection and collaboration, calling on stakeholders, including development partners, traditional authorities, civil society, the private sector, and the general public, to play active roles in building a governance system that serves all Ghanaians.
The Vice President expressed optimism that the dialogue would foster the clarity, courage, and unity needed to advance Ghana’s local governance system and ensure that decentralisation becomes a practical reality for citizens across the country.
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Source: Omanghana.com/Stella
