CITIZEN’S FORUM “CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AND DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION IN GHANA: THE WAY FORWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE”
August 26 @ 9:00 am - August 31 @ 12:00 pm
Since the advent of Ghana’s Fourth Republic, decentralisation has remained a cornerstone of democratic governance, with the objective of bringing decision-making closer to citizens and strengthening local accountability. While significant policy and legislative reforms have been undertaken over the years, important challenges persist regarding democratic accountability, citizen participation, inclusion, and the autonomy of local government institutions.
Recent developments including the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030); the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh; Cabinet approval of proposals to elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs); and the Government Position Paper present a unique opportunity to advance Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.
Against this backdrop, IDEG is convening this forum on the urgency of providing pragmatic ways of addressing the country’s decentralization and local governance challenges to inform policy adoption and enhance citizen understanding of the needed reforms. The event will provide participants with an opportunity to engage governance experts, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders on issues that are central to strengthening democratic decentralisation in Ghana.