President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved the establishment of the University of Local Governance and Development to help deepen decentralisation in the country.
This pioneering institution is set to address the critical needs and gaps in the country’s local government system, with a bill to be placed before Parliament to finalize the process.
During a recent working visit to the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Mr. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, revealed the details of this ambitious project.
He inspected several ongoing infrastructural projects designed to pave the way for the new university, which is expected to be completed by November.
“The establishment of the University of Local Governance and Development situated at Ogbojo – Madina in the Greater Accra Region is a significant milestone not only for Ghana but for Africa as a whole.
“We are setting a new benchmark in specialized local government education,” Mr. Adjei-Mensah Korsah.
He emphasized the uniqueness of the project and expressed optimism that the university would become a centre of excellence in local governance education.
The development includes a five-story lecture block, a newly completed 1,800-seater conference centre known as the Great Hall, and an administration block.
Additionally, the construction of 560 executive hostel rooms is underway, alongside the renovation of existing structures such as a 250-seater auditorium, library, graduate block, and a decentralization office.
The ILGS, established in 2003 under Act 647, is dedicated to building the capacity of local government authorities and the local government service in Ghana through education, training, research, consultancy, and advisory services.
The ongoing projects reflect ILGS’s unwavering commitment to advancing local governance and public management in the country.
Mr. Adjei-Mensah Korsah urged the contractors to expedite their work to meet the deadline, ensuring that the institute can commence operations promptly.
This initiative marks a transformative step in enhancing the human resource capabilities of local governance in Ghana, promising a brighter future for public management and local government administration.