The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, has paid a courtesy call on 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.
Accompanying the NALAG President were Mr. Justice Tsatsi, the Acting General Secretary of NALAG, and Mr. Sheriff J Amarh, National project Coordinator of the PMI WILL Project.
The visit underscored NALAG’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in Ghana’s decentralization and governance framework.
Strengthening Local Governance Through Collaboration
NALAG, as the umbrella body representing all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana, has a core mandate to advocate for the autonomy, capacity building, and resource mobilization 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.
During the meeting, Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei reiterated the importance of a strong working relationship between NALAG and IMCC, emphasizing that decentralization remains the cornerstone of effective governance and national development. He highlighted the need for joint initiatives that would empower MMDAs, enhance service delivery, and ensure that policies formulated at the national level are efficiently implemented at the local level.
Key Discussion Points and Areas of Collaboration
The discussions centered 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 decentralization are well-integrated with the development agenda of local authorities.
• Resource Mobilization and Financial Autonomy: Strengthening financial sustainability mechanisms for MMDAs to improve internally generated funds (IGF) and reduce overreliance on central government allocations.
• Digitalization 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.
A Renewed Commitment to Effective Local Governance
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 IMCC will continue to serve as a bridge between ministries, agencies, and local government institutions to ensure smooth coordination and implementation of decentralization policies.
Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei assured Dr. Hoedoafia of NALAG’s unwavering support and collaboration, emphasizing that local government remains the foundation of national progress.
He expressed optimism that with the right synergy between NALAG and IMCC, Ghana’s decentralization agenda will witness significant progress, leading to improved governance, development, and service delivery across all districts.
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.
Ghana l Atinkaonline.com
