The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) has established a Legislative Review Committee (LRC) to examine and align the legal and institutional structures supporting Ghana’s decentralisation and local governance system.
At the LRC’s inaugural meeting, held at the IMCC Secretariat in Accra, the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, officially introduced the committee members, announcing esteemed governance expert and statesman, Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, as the Chair.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Hoedoafia emphasized the critical role of the Committee’s work, highlighting the distinguished track record of the Legislative Review Committee (formerly the Legislative Review Taskforce).
He noted that the Committee has been instrumental in shaping key pieces of legislation, including the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), the Youth Authority Act, the Sports Authority Act, 2016 (Act 939), and the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 2020 (Act 1027), as well as the legislative instruments supporting the NDPC Act and the NDPC Systems Act.
He described the Committee’s re-establishment as a timely and strategic initiative to realign decentralisation laws with evolving national development priorities.
Dr. Hoedoafia commended Professor Kwamena Ahwoi for accepting the role of Chair, referring to him as the “Father of Decentralisation in Ghana,” and expressed strong confidence in the Committee’s capacity to undertake a thorough and future-oriented legal review that will enhance institutional structures within the sector.
In his response, Professor Ahwoi reaffirmed his commitment to the assignment and to the broader national decentralisation agenda. He underscored the importance of effective decentralisation as a cornerstone of sustainable development and acknowledged former President John Dramani Mahama’s visionary leadership in advancing decentralisation reforms during his service as Vice President and later as President.
Dr. Hoedoafia emphasized the IMCC’s crucial role in inter-sectoral policy coordination, noting that the Legislative Review Committee would diligently work to identify legal inconsistencies and propose solutions across sectoral legislation. He concluded the session by assuring the Committee of the full support required to effectively fulfill its mandate.
The Legislative Review Committee of the IMCC comprises a distinguished team of experts in law, policy, and governance. Its members include:
- Ms. Estelle Appiah – Specialist in Legislative Drafting and Peer Review Mechanisms
- Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye – Former Ranking Member, Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government
- Alhaji Ishaq Alhassan – Former Director, Local Governance and Legal Affairs, MLGRD
- Dr. Rainer Akumperigya – Legal Practitioner and Secretary, Constitutional Review Committee
- Ms. Heidi Boakye – Principal State Attorney, Office of the Attorney-General
- Dr. Nana Opare Gyan – Former Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, NDPC
- Hon. Stephen Ankugre – NALAG Council Member and Presiding Member, Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly
- Pln. Samuel Seth Passah – Director for Local Governance and Decentralisation
- Dr. Richard Fiadomor – President, Chamber of Local Government
- Ing. Baah Tetteh – Acting Director, Management and Technical Services, Office of the Head of the Local Government Service
