Accra: Dr Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), has urged the media to intensify its watchdog and public education roles to strengthen accountability and citizen participation in Ghana's decentralisation reforms. He emphasized the critical role of the media as a partner in promoting transparency and informed public engagement, especially as the Government prepares to implement the new National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework (NDPS) 2026-2030.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Hoedoafia highlighted the strategic position of the media in the governance ecosystem, acting as a bridge between government and citizens, reinforcing accountability and enabling informed dialogue. He made these remarks at a Sensitisation and Policy Orientation Workshop on Decentralisation and Local Governance for editorial heads and editors in Accra. The workshop aimed to deepen the media's understanding of the NDPS 2026-2030 and enhance its role in making decentralisation beneficial to citizens.
The policy framework is anchored on six thematic areas, including political, administrative, and fiscal decentralisation, decentralised planning, local economic development, and popular participation. It also focuses on strengthened accountability systems and inclusive governance, involving Parliament, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector, and citizens.
Dr Hoedoafia noted that the new framework reflects a renewed national commitment to deepen democratic decentralisation, strengthen accountable public service delivery, and accelerate local development. He stressed the importance of building 'a transformed and inclusive local governance system that empowers communities while ensuring equitable and responsive service delivery.'
He reiterated that strong local governance systems are foundational to inclusive development and democratic participation, emphasizing that effective institutions must be efficient, accountable, participatory, and responsive to citizens' needs. Dr Hoedoafia pointed out the importance of communication, civic education, and sustained public engagement for the success of the reforms.
Journalists and editors were urged to focus more on reporting issues at the district and community levels rather than primarily on national-level officials. Dr Hoedoafia noted many challenges, such as sanitation and service delivery, fall within the mandate of MMDAs and should be examined at that level.
He also mentioned that the IMCCoD institutionalized engagement with the media through journalism awards and sponsorship initiatives to encourage sustained coverage of decentralisation issues.
Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye, a Member of the IMCC Technical Committee, provided an overview of the new policy, describing it as a continuation of local governance reforms that began with the district assembly system in 1988. She explained that the NDPS 2026-2030 was developed following extensive consultations in 2025 and shaped by emerging governance, economic, and technological challenges.
The policy aims to 'reset democratic decentralisation for accountable public service delivery and accelerated local development.' It seeks to strengthen citizen participation, inclusiveness, and accountability under political decentralisation. Dr Aboagye highlighted the need for renewed civic engagement strategies, noting voter turnout in district-level elections remains around 35 per cent.
She also discussed improving administrative decentralisation through integrated service delivery, enhanced human resource capacity, and digital literacy among local government staff. Fiscal decentralisation would prioritize improved revenue mobilisation and greater financial autonomy for local assemblies.
Dr Aboagye emphasized the policy's focus on district-level job creation, climate-resilient livelihoods, and alignment with Ghana's emerging 24-hour economy agenda. She underscored technology, ethics, social inclusion, and mindset change as cross-cutting priorities, noting digital platforms and feedback systems would enhance citizen engagement and transparency.
She called for stronger collaboration with the media to simplify policy and budget information, amplify citizens' voices, counter misinformation, and promote accountability at the local level. Participants at the workshop asked questions to deepen their understanding and expressed commitment to supporting the national agenda.