Group warns weak local governance may undermine 2026 budget implementation  

The Local Governance Network (LoGnet), a civil society organisation, has called on the government to prioritise long-standing structural weaknesses in Ghana’s local governance system to ensure the effective implementation of the 2026 National Budget. 

In a press statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, LoGnet described the 2026 Budget as a bold blueprint for economic recovery, job creation, and national transformation.   

However, the organisation cautioned that the ambitious objectives outlined in the budget risk falling short if persistent systemic challenges within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were not urgently addressed. 

According to the group, decades after the introduction of decentralisation reforms, local governance in Ghana continued to grapple with inadequate financing, fragmented institutional mandates, weak accountability systems, and slow implementation of decentralisation policies. 

“The 2026 Budget presents an opportunity to reset Ghana’s development trajectory. But without strong local governance structures, national ambitions will not translate into meaningful change for citizens at the grassroots,” said Mr Christopher Dapaah, National Coordinator of LoGnet in the statement. 

LoGnet outlined several priority areas it believed the government must address to empower local authorities and enhance service delivery. 

It advocated for timely and consistent disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and other statutory transfers to enable MMDAs to plan and execute development projects. 

There is also the need to invest in training, digital tools, and operational guidelines to strengthen planning, monitoring, and accountability systems at the district level. 

LoGnet made a strong case for citizen participation by institutionalising participatory budgeting and community-led monitoring, while enhancing public education through platforms such as community radio. 

It urged government, Parliament, and development partners to treat structural reforms in local governance as a critical pillar of the 2026 Budget. 

The statement stressed that effective decentralisation remained essential to ensuring that development resources reach communities, create jobs, and improve living standards. 

“By empowering districts and communities, Ghana can ensure that the 2026 Budget delivers on its promise of jobs, opportunities, and inclusive growth,” the statement concluded. 

Source: GNA 

The post Group warns weak local governance may undermine 2026 budget implementation   appeared first on Ghana Business News.

Read Full Story