Accra: April 22, 2021: The Local Government Service has successfully opened the Conference of Regional Ministers and Regional Co-ordinating Directors in Accra. The conference brings together key players in the decentralisation and local governance sector and representatives of both national and subnational level institutions to dialogue on issues pertinent to the sector.
The conference was organized under the auspices of the Local Government Service (LGS) in partnership with the Office of the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD).
The 2021 conference is under the theme “ & : ” and is aimed to create a common understanding among practioners and policy makers to secure their buy-in and leverage on their respective roles to fast track the pace of implementation of Ghana’s National Decentralization programme.
Opening the conference, the Special Guest of Honour, Hon Akosua Frema Osei-Opare lauded the participatory approach to local governance in recognition of the discerning nature of the citizenry. She said local level service delivery has transitioned from what is used to the delivery be in the past to the provision of hospitals, schools, roads and many others in recent times. She intimated that the scope of local level service delivery has been broadened due to the many legislations that have been enacted over the years. She urged the Regional Co-ordinating Councils and other local governance actors to measure up to ensure improved service delivery.
Other speakers at the opening ceremony included the Hon Minster for Local Government, Decentralization- Hon Dan Kwaku Botwe; the Regional Minister for the Greater Accra Region, Hon Henry Quartey; and the Regional Minister for the Volta Region and the Dean of Regional Minsters – Hon Dr. Archibald Letsa. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Chairman of the Public Services Commission – Dr. Janet Ampadu Fofie Esq. and moderated by the Registrar of the Institute of the Local Government Studies Mr. David Osei-Wusu.
The conference will discuss the underpinnings of the national decentralisation agenda which is expected to ensure fruitful engagement on the varied views and expectations on local governance administration. The forum will also brainstorm on the strategies, synergies, innovations and collaborations needed to be forged with both internal and external stakeholders.
Ultimately, it is hoped that through this forum, consensus would be built and linkages forged among stakeholder institutions to accelerate the pace of local governance reforms for national development.
