By: Daniel Nkrumah, MCD- LaDMA
In a strategic engagement with Coordinating Directors from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region on Tuesday 2nd July 2025, the new Head of the Local Government Service, Professor Lord Mensah, unveiled a bold, inclusive and transformative vision aimed at repositioning Ghana’s local government architecture for responsive and impactful service delivery.
The initiative, anchored on a four-pillar framework, seeks to elevate the Assemblies from administrative outposts to proactive development institutions — equipped with professional personnel, data-informed strategies, dynamic partnerships, and financial independence.
Notably, at the meeting were key figures in Ghana’s local governance landscape, including Mrs. Felicia Dapaah A. Boakye, Chief Director at the Office of the Head of Local Government Service; Mrs Lilian Baeker, Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council; and Directors and Heads of Department from the Office of the Head of Local Government Service. Their presence not only underscores a shared commitment to the new direction being charted for MMDAs but also positions them as ambassadors to promote the vision and support its implementation.
Professionalized Local Government Service
This pillar focuses on building a culture of meritocracy, ethical governance, and service excellence. Professor Mensah outlined a roadmap to:
• Prioritize merit-based appointments, promotions and posting to uphold integrity and professionalism.
• Drive institutional reforms that streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic inertia.
• Promote effective leadership underpinned by ethical standards and strategic foresight.
• Introduce systems to curb absenteeism and improve workplace discipline.
• Establish responsive client service desks to handle public queries and complaints with dignity and efficiency.
• Foster stronger collaboration between Assemblies and the people, anchored in mutual respect and transparent communication.
“A professional Local Government Service is the foundation of a trusted system,” Professor Mensah stated. “We must build institutions that inspire pride, not frustration.”
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Leveraging his background in mathematics and systems analysis, Professor Mensah highlighted the critical role of evidence in shaping effective governance.
• MMDAs will institutionalize structured data collection — both qualitative and quantitative.
• Digital tools and analytics will guide resource allocation, project prioritization, and service delivery.
• Assemblies will engage citizens through feedback loops, ensuring that policies reflect lived experiences.
• Decisions should be backed by data and information to ensure accuracy and precision, and to minimize unpardonable mistakes.
“Local governance is a system — input leads to output. When our data is sound, our decisions will follow suit,” he emphasized.
Local Government–Private Sector Partnership
Professor Mensah championed the need for MMDAs to embrace partnerships as instruments for grassroots growth. He encouraged Assemblies to start with practical, scalable collaborations, such as:
• Engaging trotro operators and aboboyaa riders, offering basic training in human relations and branding them to enhance professionalism.
• Creating micro partnerships to support sanitation, transport regulation, and local tourism.
• Establishing business-friendly environments with simplified permit systems and SME support.
Directors raised concerns about the limitations of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2020 (Act 1039) which they said is not tailored for local contexts. Professor Mensah acknowledged this and pledged to initiate policy dialogue to make the Act more locally responsive.
Fiscal Decentralization
As a seasoned finance expert, Professor Mensah highlighted this pillar as central to the Assemblies’ capacity to deliver results.
• MMDAs will leverage digitalisation for revenue mobilisation through e-payment systems, digital permits etc.
• A culture of transparency and accountability to be fostered through real-time reporting and open financial dashboards.
• Assemblies need to identify local economic niches to expand Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
• Financial leadership and budgeting capacity within the MMDAs will be strengthened to support long-term planning and resilience.
“Fiscal autonomy is the lifeblood of transformation. We must be bold, innovative, and disciplined in mobilising and managing our resources,” Professor Mensah advised.
📝 A Call to Begin — Starting with What’s Within Reach
As a compelling conclusion to the session, Professor Mensah urged MMDAs to begin implementation immediately — starting with low-hanging fruits. These include small but symbolic reforms such as:
• Posting public notices that reinforce values and expectations within Assembly offices.
• Shifting staff mindset toward professionalism, responsiveness, and service.
He announced plans to embark on unannounced visits to various Assemblies to personally engage with operations and staff culture.
“Change does not begin with strategy alone — it begins with attitude. Let us lead by example, and let us lead now,” he declared.
A New Era for Local Governance
Professor Mensah’s vision is a shared mandate — one that calls for unity, courage, and a relentless commitment to progress. From frontline workers to top-level directors, every stakeholder has a role in shaping a future where Assemblies are not just service centres, but catalysts of transformation.
“This vision belongs to all of us. And together, we will build Assemblies that are fit for purpose — not in word, but in action.”