The call for decentralisation in Ghana’s governance structure took centre stage at a public lecture organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana in Accra on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Dr Ohene Aku Kwapong, a fellow at CDD Ghana and a corporate development expert, challenged policymakers to rethink the concentration of ministerial offices in Accra.
Speaking on the theme “Beyond the Text: Making Ghana’s Constitution Deliver Democracy”, Dr Kwapong argued that locating ministries closer to the industries they oversee would spur regional development and improve accountability.
“Ministerial headquarters should be aligned within the regions to create a local economy and local ecosystem for things to work,” he said, suggesting that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture be relocated to Elmina in the Central Region, a hub for fishing.
He warned that the overlapping roles of institutions and duplication of expenditure had created inefficiencies, weakening accountability and delaying progress.
To tackle this, he also proposed the establishment of a National Development Corporation tasked with tracking government projects to ensure completion and prevent waste.
Other speakers at the event echoed similar concerns. Shamima Muslim, Deputy Spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama, highlighted the government’s establishment of a constitutional review committee to consider public proposals for amendments.
On his part, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin emphasized the importance of trust-building and instilling civic responsibility in the youth, warning that if young Ghanaians lose confidence in political leadership, the democratic system could be at risk.
The event underscored the urgency of reforms that go beyond constitutional text to foster stronger institutions, equitable regional growth, and systems of governance that reflect Ghana’s social and economic realities.
