Dr. Gameli Dominic Hoedoafia, Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMCCoD), has emphasized the importance of legislative reforms in accelerating decentralization.
He, therefore, called for the enactment of the District Assemblies Borrowing Act to help strengthen fiscal decentralization.
Dr Hoedoafia made the call in Accra at a handover ceremony where Mr Dennis Edward Aboagye, the outgoing Executive Secretary of IMCCoD, officially handed it over to him.
He also called for the full operationalisation of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1961, facilitating the devolution of government departments to the District Assemblies.
Dr Hoedoafia urged the government to prioritize the decentralization of key sectors such as education and health, improving service delivery at the local level and enhancing governance efficiency.
He stated that key among his priorities was the review and finalization of the Draft National Decentralization Policy (2025-2029), which he said would serve as the blueprint for the country’s decentralization reforms.
The Executive Secretary noted that he would also work to strengthen collaboration with Development Partners through bilateral dialogues and the revitalization of the Decentralization Working Group.
“I will work to enhance partnerships with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to improve local governance and service delivery.
“I will also institutionalize the National Decentralization Dialogue to provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, perspectives, and best practices in decentralization,” he said.
Dr Hoedoafia pledged to ensure that decentralization in Ghana remained inclusive, participatory, and development-driven.
“IMMCoD is poised to advance Ghana’s decentralization agenda, fostering a governance system that is responsive, transparent and accountable to the needs of local communities,” he assured.
Dr Hoedoafia affirmed his commitment to teamwork, innovation, and transformational strategies that would position IMCCoD as the leading coordinating body in the country’s decentralization process.
He called on the staff to uphold excellence, dedication, and professionalism in their work, emphasizing the critical role the Secretariat played in ensuring improved public service delivery through decentralization reforms and policies.
Dr Hoedoafia expressed his gratitude to Mr Aboagye and the staff of the Secretariat for the warm reception accorded him.
Mr. Aboagye highlighted Dr. Hoedoafia’s vast experience and expertise in decentralization and local governance and was hopeful that he would take the Secretariat to another level.
He urged staff of the Secretariat to accord their full support to the new Executive Secretary to ensure the successful implementation of government policies in the sector.
IMCCoD was established in 2010 to serve as the Central Institutional mechanism for inter-sectoral policy coordination on decentralization and local governance.
Its mandate is to ensure that Ghana’s local government system is effectively administered to drive rapid development through accelerated decentralization and efficient service delivery.
By Emmanuel Nyatsikor, GNA.
