Accra, 26th August 2026: The Management and Staff of the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) have formally welcomed the incoming Chief Director, Mr Sampson Amoako Kwarteng, with a pledge to work together to strengthen the Service’s mandate of securing the effective administration and management of the decentralised local governance system in the country.
At a staff durbar held at the Office on Wednesday, August 26 2026, Mr Kwarteng described his appointment as a call to greater service rather than a career advancement and pledged to support the vision of the Head of the Local Government Service, Prof. Lord Mensah.
“I accept this responsibility not merely as a promotion in my career, but as a call to greater service. I am conscious of the enormous expectations that come with this office and the strategic role that the OHLGS plays in the effective management of Ghana’s decentralised local government system,” he said.
The incoming Chief Director expressed gratitude to Prof. Mensah for the confidence reposed in him and assured staff of his commitment to building on the institution’s achievements.
Drawing on more than three decades of public service experience, Mr Kwarteng said he had served in 3 Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and worked in over 10 districts as such he understood both the strengths and challenges of the Local Government Service.
“I have been with you throughout. I have been at the district level. I know what is working and what is not working,” he told staff.
Mr Kwarteng said his leadership would be guided by continuity, beneficial change and where necessary, transformation.
He noted that his appointment did not mean the Service was starting afresh but rather presented an opportunity to harness the experience and institutional knowledge of its staff.
He said his priority was to ensure that the OHLGS remained well organised, adequately staffed and professionally managed to provide effective technical and administrative support to the 16 Regional Coordinating Councils and 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Aligning himself with the vision of the Head of Service, he identified professionalism, data-driven decision-making, partnerships and fiscal decentralisation as key pillars for advancing the Service.
“When I was posted here, somebody asked what my vision for the Service is. I said my mission is to ensure that the vision of the Head of Service is realised and achieved,” he said.
The incoming Chief Director urged staff to reject silo mentality and embrace collaboration across directorates and units.
“The success of one directorate is connected to the success of another. There must be no ‘my directorate, your directorate’ mentality. It must be our OHLGS,” he emphasised.
He also announced plans to strengthen the Service’s performance culture by shifting the focus from reporting activities to measuring results.
According to him, every directorate and unit should work with clear priorities, measurable targets and timelines, while reports should highlight achievements, challenges, lessons and the way forward.
Mr Kwarteng further encouraged the adoption of digitalisation, electronic workflow systems and innovation to improve efficiency, describing technology as an enabler of effective service delivery.
On staff welfare, he assured employees of management’s commitment to capacity building, continuous professional development, career progression, mentoring and a healthy working environment.
“Our staff are our greatest institutional assets. You will be supported. You will be motivated. But you must also give the Service your best,” he said.
He urged officers to uphold the Service’s five core values: commitment, integrity, professionalism, teamwork and continuous improvement, adding that outstanding performance would be recognised while misconduct would be addressed through fair administrative procedures.
Mr Kwarteng concluded by calling on staff to work collectively to build an institution where professionalism, integrity, innovation, accountability and excellence remain the hallmarks of the Local Government Service.