Accra: Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC), has called upon District Coordinating Directors to prioritize delivering tangible results that enhance the lives of individuals within their communities. He emphasized that the success of decentralization should be gauged by the effective implementation of policies at the local level and their translation into improved services and opportunities for citizens.
According to Ghana News Agency, this call was made by Dr. Hoedoafia at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the Association of District Coordinating Directors of Ghana (ASCOD), which took place in Cape Coast. Speaking on the theme, 'Transforming District Assemblies for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Coordinating Director,' he highlighted the crucial role of Coordinating Directors in ensuring District Assemblies remain focused on outcomes.
Dr. Hoedoafia elaborated that decentralization should extend beyond policy formulation to effective implementation and delivery of measurable outcomes at the district level. He introduced participants to the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework (NDPS) 2026-2030, which outlines the path for accelerating Ghana's decentralization agenda and strengthening local governance. The Framework concentrates on six key thematic areas: political decentralization, administrative decentralization, decentralized planning, fiscal decentralization, local economic development, and popular participation and accountability.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the Framework is contingent upon its implementation at the district level. District Assemblies must be capable of translating national priorities into tangible outcomes that cater to the needs and aspirations of citizens. Dr. Hoedoafia called for enhanced financial management and increased local revenue mobilization to reduce the reliance of District Assemblies on central government transfers. He encouraged Coordinating Directors to identify and leverage the economic potential of their districts to generate additional resources for development.
Furthermore, Dr. Hoedoafia advocated for the effective use of technology, such as the District Local Revenue (dLRev) software, to improve revenue mobilization and financial management. He urged Coordinating Directors to transcend mere compliance with administrative procedures and focus on effective planning, coordination, resource management, and service delivery. He underscored the centrality of Coordinating Directors to the effective functioning of District Assemblies, asserting that their coordination is critical to ensuring local authorities remain focused on their mandates and development priorities.
In conclusion, Dr. Hoedoafia stated that the ultimate objective of decentralization is to transition from policy to practice, from practice to results, and from results to an enhanced quality of life for Ghanaians.