It urged government to implement these key reforms to strengthen Ghana’s decentralization processes.

Alhaji Osman Abdel - Rahman, Executive Director of GDCA, made the proposal at a press conference in Tamale to mark this year’s African Union (AU) Decentralization and Local Development Day, which is observed annually on August 10.

This year’s celebration on the theme: “Building Resilient Communities through Inclusive Decentralization and Equitable Development,” seeks to assess progress since the adoption of the 2014 African Charter on Decentralization and adopt new strategies to deepen reforms across AU Member States.

Alhaji Abdel-Rahman said decentralization in Ghana had made notable progress since its major push in 1988 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), and enshrined in the 1992 Constitution as a means to devolve power to elected sub-national governments.

Ghana, currently has 261 MMDAs responsible for local governance and service delivery.

However, he noted, challenges such as inadequate and delayed funding, limited revenue mobilization, inequitable development, and political interference continued to undermine the effectiveness of the system.

He explained that delays in the release of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) often stalled project execution, undermined planning, and eroded public confidence in local authorities.

He indicated that many MMDAs had narrow revenue bases and weak enforcement mechanisms, making them overly dependent on central government transfers.

Alhaji Abdel-Rahman said, “We call on the Ministry of Finance and all relevant agencies to publish a timetable indicating timelines the DACF will be released each quarter. This will ensure prompt and predictable disbursement to allow for proper planning and accountability.”

He further urged the review of the DACF allocation formula to prioritise deprived and underserved districts, arguing that this would reduce inequalities in development outcomes across the country.

On revenue mobilisation, Alhaji Abdel - Rahman encouraged MMDAs to adopt innovative strategies to boost internally generated funds to reduce over reliance on central transfers.

He spoke on political reforms, reiterating GDCA’s support for the election of MMDCEs, saying, “This will help reduce the over concentration of power at the national level whilst promoting local accountability and enhancing citizens’ participation in governance.”

He further touched on GDCA’s work, and said the organisation had, over the past four decades, partnered communities, MMDAs, civil society groups, and development agencies to strengthen local governance, empower marginalized groups, and improve social services, especially in northern Ghana.

"Through our flagship Empowerment for Life Programme, GDCA had supported citizens to monitor public projects and services, which had contributed to improved quality and service delivery. It had also facilitated the construction of livestock markets in Gushegu, Bawku, and Buipe, significantly boosting local revenue generation.

Alhaji Abdel-Rahman emphasised that the AU Decentralization and Local Development Day provided an important platform for reflection and action to build inclusive and resilient communities across Africa.