Cabinet has approved sweeping reforms to Ghana’s decentralisation framework, including plans to end the presidential appointment of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), review existing local governance laws, and introduce stronger accountability measures at the local level.
Under the proposed reforms, district chief executives will be elected directly by the people on a non-partisan basis for the first time in Ghana’s history.
A new local governance bill is also expected to be submitted to Parliament by the end of 2026.
The Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, disclosed the details in an interview on the newly approved National Decentralisation Policy and Strategic Framework (2026–2030).
According to him, the reforms are aimed at deepening democratic decentralisation, enhancing citizen participation in local governance, and improving service delivery at the grassroots level.
Dr. Hoedoafia indicated that the current batch of MMDCEs appointed by John Dramani Mahama could be the last to assume office under the existing constitutional arrangement.
A central feature of the reforms is the proposed amendment of Article 243(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which currently empowers the President to appoint MMDCEs subject to approval by two-thirds of assembly members present and voting.
Under the new arrangement, that authority would be transferred directly to the electorate. “There shall be a district chief executive for every district who shall be elected by the people,” Dr. Hoedoafia said, explaining that provisions relating to presidential appointment and assembly approval would be removed.
He noted that the government had deliberately chosen a non-partisan model after nationwide consultations revealed strong public support for keeping local government elections free from partisan political influence.
Activities relating to constitutional amendments, referenda and other legal reforms have been scheduled between 2027 and 2029 to facilitate the eventual election of MMDCEs.
Dr. Hoedoafia said findings from public consultations and surveys, including those conducted by Afrobarometer, showed widespread support for elected MMDCEs, provided the process remains non-partisan.
Dr. Hoedoafia also disclosed that the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), is currently under review, with a replacement bill expected to be laid before Parliament before the end of the year. “Soon, we will have a new local governance law.
The current one, Act 936, is being reviewed, and it is captured in the policy,” he said.“By the end of this year, we should have something in Parliament and, if possible, by the first quarter of 2027, we will have a new law.”
He explained that the Legislative Review Committee of the IMCCoD is leading the review process before the draft legislation is submitted to the Ministry of Local Government, Cabinet and subsequently Parliament.
According to him, nearly a decade of implementing Act 936 has revealed several gaps and operational challenges that require legislative reforms.
Another major reform involves the integration of spatial planning and development planning functions at the metropolitan, municipal and district assembly (MMDA) level.
Dr. Hoedoafia said the current arrangement, where planning responsibilities are spread across multiple departments, has led to inefficiencies and coordination challenges. “Now, we are harmonising that into the delivery of an integrated planning function,” he explained.
The reforms are expected to streamline planning processes and improve the management of zoning, permitting and land-use issues across local assemblies.
The proposed framework also seeks to strengthen transparency and accountability within local governance structures.
Dr. Hoedoafia revealed that a local accountability platform, modelled after Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, would be established to allow MMDCEs and other public officials to account directly to citizens for the use of public resources.“We want duty bearers to explain to the people at the local level how resources have been used,” he said.
He added that stricter criteria would be introduced for appointing the 30 per cent government nominees to district assemblies, ensuring those positions are filled based on technical competence rather than political patronage.
As part of efforts to strengthen local governance and service delivery, the policy also proposes increasing the constitutional minimum allocation to the District Assemblies Common Fund from five per cent to 7.5 per cent.
Although the Constitutional Review Commission recommended raising the allocation to 10 per cent, Dr. Hoedoafia said the government favours a gradual approach to implementation.
If approved and implemented, the reforms would represent one of the most significant changes to Ghana’s local governance system since the introduction of decentralisation, fundamentally reshaping how local leaders are selected, held accountable and resourced.
