Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed the government’s determination to reset Ghana’s decentralization agenda to make governance more responsive and closer to the people. Speaking at the opening of the National Dialogue on Decentralization and Responsive Governance in Accra, she noted that more than two billion cedis has so far been disbursed through the District Assemblies Common Fund to support community development and improve essential services. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said resources alone are not enough, stressing the need for data-driven policies, strong accountability, and active citizen participation to make decentralization meaningful.
She delivered the keynote address at the National Dialogue on Decentralization and Responsive Governance, which is being held under the theme “Resetting Decentralization for Responsive Governance and Effective Service Delivery.”
The dialogue is an important opportunity to reaffirm our national commitment to decentralization and to reset the agenda for local governance in Ghana.
She reiterated the Government’s commitment to bringing governance closer to the people, citing the deployment of resources to the District Assemblies Common Fund and the election of MMDCEs.
”Our approach is increasingly data-driven to ensure fairness and maximum impact”, the Vice President noted.
Decentralization is not an end in itself but a means to achieve better governance and service delivery. It allows the government to identify local problems and ensures that citizens can see the hand of Government in their everyday lives.
”Governance must not be restricted to the capital cities; it must reach communities across the country”, Prof. Naana Jane posited.
She said deliberations from the dialogue would be translated into bold and practical policies, so that the Government comes closer to the people and that they become active participants in decision-making.
Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMMC), Dr. Gameli Hoedofia committed to a Decentralization process that seeks accountability of the people.
