The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, convened the Decentralisation Sector Working Group (DSWG) meeting for 2026 on Monday, 2nd March 2026, at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Serving as the sector’s platform for policy dialogue, the meeting brought together Government of Ghana officials and Development Partners to deliberate on policy issues in the local governance and decentralisation sector.
In his opening address, the Sector Minister and Chairman of the DSWG, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, underscored the importance of the platform as a space to assess performance from the previous year and chart a coordinated path toward improved service delivery across Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The Minister highlighted significant milestones achieved in 2025, including the successful rollout of the National Sanitation Day initiative under the “Clean Up Ghana” campaign, launched by John Dramani Mahama. He further indicated progress on the elevation of districts and municipalities, ongoing amendments to the Local Governance Act, and the government’s collaboration with stakeholders to implement the 24-hour economy through the construction of modern 24-hour markets across all 261 MMDAs.
On fiscal decentralisation, he revealed the record annual disbursement of GH¢6.29 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund, with over GH¢4.3 billion already disbursed, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the principle of “Funds Follow Functions”. Additionally, the 9th cycle of the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) was successfully conducted, with GH¢810 million expected to be disbursed under the DACF-RFG Programme.
The Minister also emphasized the historic disbursement of GH¢100 million as allowances to Assembly Members and a 300% increase in allowance for traditional authorities, aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and participation.
Looking ahead, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing legislative reforms, operationalising the District Development Data Platform (DDDP), improving Internally Generated Funds (IGF) through the dLRev platform, and enhancing urban mobility through functional transport departments. He also stressed the importance of sustained collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of decentralisation reforms nationwide.
Remarks by Co-Chair
The Co-Chair of the DSWG, H.E. Janine Walz, Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Togo, and Benin, expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between Development Partners and the Government of Ghana. She noted that partners remain committed to supporting Ghana’s decentralisation agenda and look forward to even stronger cooperation.
Reflecting on a recent joint field visit undertaken with the Ministry and the IMCC, she emphasised that achieving meaningful impact requires the collective effort of multiple stakeholders. She commended the Government of Ghana for its commitment to decentralisation, noting that this has already translated into significant achievements in 2025.
She called for broader and more inclusive partnerships, encouraging other DPs to come on board and contribute to ongoing reforms within the decentralisation space. Citing insights from World Bank documentation, she noted that the DSWG remains one of the best-performing working groups, underscoring the need to sustain momentum through continuous dialogue and collaboration.
H.E. Walz also observed the high level of government representation within the working group and stressed the need to strengthen other sector working groups to ensure balanced progress. She further called on Development Partners, including German partners, to support the DACF-RFG Programme, noting that available resources are being effectively utilised and delivering tangible results at the local level.
The Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, noted that the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030 has been completed and is awaiting cabinet approval. He added that progress has also been made in the area of Legislative Reforms.
He further indicated that the LRC, under the auspices of the IMCC, has held a series of engagements with key sector ministers, including those responsible for education, health, and roads. As a result, a joint committee has been established with the Ministries of Education, as well as Roads and Highways to advance the devolution of these sectors.
The meeting wrapped up with a focus on strengthening local governance and service delivery. Other key issues discussed included progress on the District Level Revenue (dLRev) platform, updates on the rollout of the District Development Data Platform (DDDP) and compliance strategies, and insights from the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT).
Present at the meeting were Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister of Local Government; Dr. Evans Aggrey Darkoh, Head of Civil Service; Mr. Harry Yamson, DACF Administrator; Prof. Lord Mensah, Head of Local Government Service; Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director-General of NDPC; Prof. Nicholas Awortwi, Director of ILGS; Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, Deputy Director of the Internal Audit Agency; Dr. Kwadwo Yeboah, CEO of LUSPA; as well as representatives from the Office of the Vice President, World Bank, GIZ, European Union, and NALAG, among others.
