By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Mr. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, and some executives of the association have paid an official working visit to the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC), Dr. Gameli Dominic Hoedoafia, to congratulate him on behalf of NALAG and discuss avenues for collaboration to strengthen Ghana’s local governance system.
The visit, according to Mr. Adjei, underscored NALAG’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in Ghana’s decentralisation and governance framework.
During an interaction with the IMCC Exe. Secretary, the President of NALAG reiterated the importance of a strong working relationship between NALAG and IMCC. Adding that decentralisation remains the cornerstone of effective governance and national development.
Mr. Adjei further underscored the need for joint initiatives that would empower Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enhance service delivery and also ensure that policies formulated at the national level are efficiently implemented at the local level.
The President of NALAG assured Dr. Hoedoafia of NALAG’s unwavering support and collaboration, maintaining that local government remains the foundation of national progress.
He expressed optimism that with the right synergy between NALAG and IMCC, Ghana’s decentralisation agenda will witness significant progress, leading to improved governance, development, and service delivery across all districts.
On his part, Dr. Gameli Dominic Kewuribe Hoedoafia expressed his gratitude for the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with NALAG to achieve common goals.
He acknowledged the critical role of local authorities in national development and assured that his outfit will continue to serve as a bridge between ministries, agencies, and local government institutions to ensure smooth coordination and implementation of decentralisation policies.
The discussions between the two bodies centred on: Capacity Building for Local Government Officials: Enhancing the leadership and administrative competencies of Assembly Members, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and local government staff.
Policy Alignment and Implementation: Ensuring that government policies on decentralisation are well-integrated with the development agenda of local authorities.
Resource Mobilisation and Financial Autonomy: Strengthening financial sustainability mechanisms for MMDAs to improve internally generated funds (IGF) and reduce overreliance on central government allocations.
Digitalisation and Smart Governance: Exploring ways to introduce technology-driven solutions to enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery at the local level.
Youth and Women Empowerment Initiatives: Leveraging national policies and local governance structures to create more opportunities for youth and women in governance, entrepreneurship, and community development.
NALAG, as the umbrella body representing all MMDAs in Ghana, has a core mandate to advocate for the autonomy, capacity building, and resource mobilisation of local governments.
Similarly, the IMCC plays a crucial role in coordinating inter-ministerial efforts to ensure effective decentralization, policy coherence, and synergy between national and local governance structures.
The visit marked a significant step toward strengthening partnerships between NALAG and IMCC, setting the stage for a more coordinated approach to local governance and national development.
The NALAG President was accompanied by Mr. Justice Tsatsi, the Acting General Secretary of NALAG, and Mr. Sheriff J. Amarh, the National Project Coordinator of the PMI WILL Project.
