President John Dramani Mahama’s first year in office has shown progress in local governance, but systemic challenges remain, according to the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in its first-year assessment of the Mahama II administration.
The report highlights improvements in the direct transfer of funds to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), with 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) reaching local authorities, compared with an average of 40–50% in previous years. The CDD described this as a “laudable” step toward empowering local governments and supporting development at the grassroots.
However, the report notes that broader reforms, including upgrading selected districts and implementing non-partisan elections for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), are yet to be realized. “The government must show evidence of how the improvement in the transfers impacted development at the local level beyond the numbers,” the assessment said.
The administration has also inaugurated the Constitution Review Committee (CRC II) and begun reviewing the National Decentralization Policy Strategy (NDPS) for 2026–2030. The CRC’s recommendations include establishing an Independent Devolution Commission, rationalizing district creation, enhancing the role of traditional authorities, and increasing DACF allocations to 10% of national revenue.
CDD-Ghana emphasized the importance of publishing outcomes from national dialogues and expert consultations to ensure transparency and informed public engagement. “Research has shown most districts are not viable and sustainable to anchor development and governance through service delivery, oversight and resource mobilization,” the report noted.
The Mahama administration has made initial strides in political decentralization and fiscal transfers, significant work remains to strengthen accountability, transparency, and the operational capacity of local authorities.
The report calls for sustained implementation of reforms to deliver on promises made in the NDC’s 2024 People’s Manifesto.
