Accra: Former Minister of Local Government and Decentralisation, Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, has raised concerns over the poor implementation of decentralisation policies in Ghana, suggesting that it could threaten national unity and potentially lead to separatist movements.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Ahwoi spoke at a sensitisation and policy orientation workshop organised by the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) on May 19, 2026. He highlighted that if decentralisation is not managed carefully, it could evolve into federalism, secession, and ultimately the disintegration of the state. As the Chairman of the IMCC Technical Committee, Professor Ahwoi explained that Ghana's decentralisation structure is designed to maintain weak regional authorities to preserve national cohesion.
He cautioned that decentralisation could inadvertently fuel separatist tendencies, stating, "In decentralising, you must be aware that there are separatist tendencies. It is very easy to move from decentralisation to separation, to federalism, to balkanisation, to secession, and to the breakdown of the country." He described Ghana as an "artificial colonial construct," arguing that the country's formation was more a result of colonial arrangements than historical national unity.
Professor Ahwoi pointed out that the Ashanti Kingdom could have historically expanded to dominate much of present-day Ghana if it weren't for British colonial intervention. He remarked, "It is most likely that Ashanti would have conquered the rest of Ghana. They had, because the British just stopped them." He noted that Ghana's stability has been maintained partly due to what he referred to as "wise Ashanti leaders" who have not pushed for separatist agendas. However, he warned that ethnic or regional tensions might arise if decentralisation structures are mishandled.
Citing historical precedents, Professor Ahwoi referenced the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, and Nigeria's civil war following Biafra's attempted secession. He argued that these examples illustrate how strong regional identities, political leadership, and resource control can threaten national unity and lead to conflict.
Professor Ahwoi emphasized the importance of decentralisation for governance and local development but warned against creating systems that might encourage fragmentation. "I have explained to you that Ashanti could easily be a country. The Dagomba Kingdom could easily be a country. We don't want to fashion out a governance system that will give an excuse for Ghana to break up," he concluded.
The workshop was part of efforts to build public awareness and support for Ghana's new National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework (2026-2030), engaging media practitioners in discussions on governance and local administration reforms.