The Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Celltel Networks Limited to implement a nationwide digital infrastructure programme aimed at transforming all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) into smart service delivery hubs.
The Local Government Service IT Infrastructure and Systems Improvement Programme (LITISIP) is designed to provide a secure, reliable and resilient digital foundation for local governance, while supporting smart communities, youth employment and improved access to digital public services.
The agreement, signed in Accra on September 3, 2026, forms part of government’s broader digital transformation agenda and is expected to strengthen local governance administration through technology, connectivity and innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Head of the Local Government Service, Prof. Lord Kwaku Mensah, described the initiative as more than an information technology project.
“This is not simply the beginning of another Information Technology project, but also the beginning of an important journey towards a more connected, digitally enabled and citizen-centred Local Government Service,” he said.
Prof. Mensah said LITISIP aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of leveraging digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence to modernise public services, stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities.
He noted that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) represent the frontline of public service delivery, making them central to the successful implementation of the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy.
According to him, the programme seeks to build Smart Assemblies and Smart Communities by extending connectivity beyond government offices to schools, businesses and households.
“Our vision is not simply connected government. Our vision is connected communities,” he stated.
He explained that the digital infrastructure would support smart solutions in waste management, public safety, environmental monitoring, education, healthcare and citizen engagement.
The Executive Chairman of Celltel Networks Limited, Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, said the project had secured the backing of leading global technology companies, including Cisco and other network partners.
He said the initiative presents an opportunity for Ghana to shift from an economy driven primarily by natural resources to one powered by digital innovation and creative employment.
“For a long time, African nations have depended on gold and other natural resources. We have not looked at where jobs for our youth will be created,” he said.
Dr. Kludjeson observed that inadequate internet connectivity had contributed to youth migration from rural communities and said the programme would help bridge the digital divide by bringing smart infrastructure to villages across the country.
He added that the project would support education, healthcare, national security and revenue mobilisation by MMDAs, while discussions were already underway with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Secretariat and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
According to him, Ghana will serve as the headquarters for the initiative, which is expected to be replicated in Nigeria, Rwanda and Kenya.
LITISIP is expected to reinforce the Head of Local Government Service’s four-pillar transformation agenda of professionalisation, data-driven decision-making, local government-private sector partnerships and fiscal decentralisation.