Accra: The Head of the Local Government Service, Prof. Lord Mensah, has charged members of the sixth Local Government Service Council to drive visionary leadership, accountable governance, and exemplary institutional performance across all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). He delivered this charge during the opening of a two-day retreat for the Council at the MJ Grand Hotel in Accra, focusing on the theme "Strengthening Leadership, Governance, and Institutional Performance in the Local Government Service."
According to Ghana Web, the retreat, held from June 26 to 27, 2026, served as a platform for knowledge sharing, strategic reflection, and engagement on ethical issues shaping local governance. Prof. Lord Mensah emphasized the importance of the Council's role in ensuring effective governance and institutional performance, highlighting the need for visionary leadership and accountable governance to meet rising citizen expectations and manage digital transformations reshaping public administration.
The Local Government Service Council, established under the Local Government Service Act, 2016 (Act 936), is tasked with providing strategic policy direction and promoting institutional development. Prof. Lord Mensah reminded members that equipping themselves with contemporary knowledge and practical insight is an obligation, not a choice, given the rapidly shifting governance landscape.
Sessions during the retreat covered leadership and accountability, the Local Governance Act, digital transformation, local government financing, and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP). Prof. Lord Mensah urged Council members to focus discussions on strengthening leadership, improving governance, and enhancing institutional performance within the Local Government Service.
Clear expectations were set for the outcomes of the retreat, with an emphasis on leaving with a sharper understanding of roles, a deeper appreciation of the legal framework, and actionable priorities for institutional performance improvement. Collaboration among the Council, the Management of the Service, and key stakeholders was stressed to ensure governance decisions translate into tangible service delivery improvements for citizens.
The sixth Local Government Service Council, the statutory governing body under Act 936, is responsible for providing policy direction for the Local Government Service, overseeing staff, and managing institutional systems for the 261 MMDAs.