Ghana's decentralization efforts hampered by political shifts and weak local capacity, says professor

Ghana's push for deeper decentralization and more responsive local governance is being undermined by frequent political transitions and insufficient institutional capacity at the local level, according to Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee from the University of Ghana.

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Political transitions and weak institutional capacity at the local level are undermining Ghana’s efforts to deepen decentralisation and make local governance more responsive.

Professor Ayee explained that constant changes in political leadership and policy direction disrupt the continuity needed for implementing decentralization policies. Simultaneously, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) continue to struggle with inadequate capacity, financial constraints, and poor service delivery. These issues persist despite some progress in establishing legal frameworks, infrastructure, and local government structures.

He noted that the autonomy of MMDAs remains largely theoretical, as they remain heavily reliant on the central government for both financial resources and key decision-making. To address this, Professor Ayee advocated for comprehensive constitutional and institutional reforms to bolster the autonomy, accountability, and effectiveness of MMDAs. He also urged political leaders to ensure policy continuity, enhance local revenue generation, and empower assemblies to provide essential services, particularly in sanitation and disaster management.

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The autonomy of MMDAs is largely on paper, as the assemblies continued to depend heavily on central government for financial resources and key decisions.

Douglas Quartey, a Civil Society and Local Governance practitioner, echoed the call for reforms to deepen decentralization and strengthen citizen participation. He questioned the proposed election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), emphasizing the need for genuine citizen choice rather than government-controlled candidate selection. Quartey also criticized the continued appointment of one-third of assembly members by the President, arguing it hasn't fulfilled its objective of promoting inclusiveness or incorporating local expertise.

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The proposed election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) must guarantee genuine citizens’ choice, rather than allow the government to determine who could contest.

Furthermore, Quartey pointed out the practical influence of political parties in local government elections, despite their constitutional non-partisanship. He suggested stakeholders reconsider the non-partisan nature of these elections, citing low voter turnout as evidence of declining public interest. Separately, Ms. Becky Enyonam Ahadzi of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition called for a constitutional guarantee of minimum women's representation in District Assemblies.

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Although local government elections were constitutionally non-partisan, political parties had, in practice, played significant roles in the elections.