The Head of the Local Government Service (LGS), Prof. Lord Kwaku Mensah has called on Regional Co-ordinating Directors (RCDs) to spearhead the implementation of the Government’s Reset Agenda.
He said the newly appointed and serving RCDs occupy an important position within the decentralised governance system and play a leading role in ensuring that the Government’s vision of integrity, accountability, efficiency and improved public service delivery was realised.
Addressing the opening of a three-day orientation workshop for the 16 Regional Co-ordinating Directors of the LGS’s in Kumasi on August 3, 2026. Prof. Mensah said the appointments came at a defining moment in Ghana’s governance and development trajectory.
“The Government has articulated an ambitious national vision through its Reset Agenda, which seeks to renew public confidence in state institutions by promoting integrity, accountability, efficiency, fiscal discipline, inclusive growth and improved public service delivery,” he said.
Prof. Mensah explained that under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), Regional Co-ordinating Directors were responsible for co-ordinating government interventions across sectors, facilitating collaboration among public sector institutions, monitoring performance and ensuring that national development priorities were integrated into regional and district plans.
“As Regional Co-ordinating Directors, you occupy a pivotal position in the implementation of this architecture.
“You are expected to co-ordinate government interventions across sectors, facilitate collaboration among public sector institutions, monitor performance, promote accountability and ensure that national development priorities are effectively integrated into regional and district plans,” he stated.
He stressed that the success of the Government’s development agenda would depend not only on sound policies but also on their effective implementation through Regional Co-ordinating Councils and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
“You must understand that the success of these national priorities cannot be realised through policy pronouncements alone but largely on the quality of implementation across the public sector, particularly within our decentralised governance system,” he said.
The Head of the Local Government Service admonished the participants to become “champions for the execution of excellence” by promoting evidence-based planning, disciplined implementation, continuous monitoring and results properly measured.
“You must cultivate a culture where planning is evidence-based, implementation is disciplined, monitoring is continuous and performance is measured by results rather than listing of activities. We must move beyond reporting inputs and outputs to demonstrating meaningful outcomes and sustainable impact,” he added.
Prof. Mensah noted that the orientation programme had been designed as a strategic leadership intervention to strengthen participants’ understanding of governance, public administration, leadership, decentralisation and emerging technologies.
He said participants would explore evolving trends in public administration, including artificial intelligence-enabled governance, which he described as an important tool for improving planning, human resource management, procurement, financial administration, disaster management and citizen engagement.
“The future of public administration is increasingly digital, data-driven and citizen-centred. For a country committed to resetting governance and creating an enabling environment for businesses, technology must become a strategic enabler rather than merely an administrative convenience,” he said.
Prof. Mensah also encouraged the RCDs to deepen their understanding of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030), describing effective decentralisation as essential to strengthening democratic governance, enhancing citizen participation and accelerating equitable development.
He reminded the directors that their decisions must always be guided by the Constitution, the Local Governance Act and other relevant legal and policy frameworks to safeguard institutional integrity and public confidence.
The Head of the Local Government Service further urged the participants to uphold professionalism, impartiality and political neutrality while faithfully implementing the policies of the elected government.
He said Regional Co-ordinating Directors would also be expected to respond effectively to emerging challenges, including violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, environmental conflicts, chieftaincy disputes, election-related tensions and climate-induced disasters through stronger collaboration with security agencies.
Prof. Mensah emphasised that effective leadership in today’s public service requires more than technical competence, calling on the participants to demonstrate emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, resilience, adaptability and ethical conduct.
“Leadership at your level is not simply about administration but vision, integrity and courage. You are called to inspire confidence, mobilise resources and ensure that policies translate into tangible outcomes for citizens,” he said.
He urged the Regional Co-ordinating Directors to take full advantage of the workshop by engaging actively with the facilitators and fellow participants to strengthen their capacity to deliver responsive and accountable governance.
Prof. Mensah expressed confidence that the orientation would equip the participants with the knowledge and practical tools required to strengthen regional administration and support the successful implementation of the Government’s Reset Agenda.