The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation has concluded its sub-national level stakeholder consultations on the formulation of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy for 2025–2029.

The sub-national level consultations, which began on May 26, 2025, in Cape Coast brought together key stakeholders from across the country, including Coordinating Directors, Metropolitan Municipal District Coordinating Directors, Budget Officers, Planning Officers, Agricultural Officers, Health Directors, Education Directors, CSOs, PWDs from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as Traditional Authorities.

The 16 regions were divided into four zones, with workshops held in Cape Coast, Ho, Tamale, and Kumasi. Each zone hosted participants from several adjoining regions to promote inclusive participation and regional balance.

The final zonal event brought together stakeholders from the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western North Regions, and was attended by the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, Lead Consultant Dr. Esther Ofei Aboagye, and a representative of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Mrs. Beatrice Kwarteng Osei-Asare.

Also present were prominent traditional authorities from the Ashanti regional house of chief, such as the Offinso Omanhene, Nana Dwamena Akenten, the Sabronum Manhene, Nana Kofi Asante, and the Adankrangya Manhene, Nana Oppong Frenyam II.

Addressing participants at the final zonal consultation, Dr. Hoedoafia reiterated the Government’s commitment to revitalising Ghana’s decentralisation agenda. “The Government has already signalled its strongest commitment to repositioning local governance as a pillar of inclusive development,” he stated, emphasizing the goal of creating a “robust, forward-looking, and responsive decentralisation policy” grounded in evidence and stakeholder input.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mrs. Osei-Asare praised the IMCC for leading the participatory process but also acknowledged existing implementation challenges within the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in Ghana.

“We are not without challenges, including capacity constraints, inadequate funding, and coordination issues,” she noted, urging participants to confront these barriers with boldness and pragmatism.

The stakeholder consultation follows an earlier call for position papers on the six thematic areas of the policy: Political Decentralisation, Fiscal Decentralisation, Decentralised Planning, Local Economic Development, Administrative Decentralisation, and Popular Participation and Accountability.

These thematic areas are also shaped by six (6) cross-cutting issues, such as Climate Change and Environmental Management, Gender and Social Inclusion, Technology and Innovation, Ethics, Values, and Change Management, the 24-Hour Economy, and Local Safety and Security.

The Zonal consultations have been useful in providing inputs to enrich the national policy. Plans are underway to organise a National Policy Dialogue on Decentralisation to broaden perspectives on shaping Ghana’s Decentralisation journey