The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) has begun consultations with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to strengthen the integration and effectiveness of road sector responsibilities within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The engagement forms part of the country’s broader decentralisation agenda aimed at deepening the operationalisation of devolved government functions at the local level.

The discussions are focused on clarifying institutional roles, strengthening coordination between central government agencies and local authorities, and ensuring that road sector management aligns with the country’s decentralisation laws and policies. 

Initiative

The initiative is intended to enhance accountability, promote subsidiarity, and make road planning, implementation and maintenance more responsive to the needs of local communities.

A key objective of the consultation is to explore how certain road management functions can be transferred to local assemblies based on agreed road classifications.

This will allow MMDAs to play a more active role in managing and maintaining road infrastructure within their jurisdictions, provided they are equipped with the necessary capacity and resources.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, welcomed the consultation and described it as long overdue.

 He observed that although urban roads had previously been placed under local government control, there had never been a comprehensive assessment of how effective the arrangement had been.

He further noted that many responsibilities meant to be handled locally were still managed at the national level, while road agencies often lacked the full technical capacity required to carry out their mandates.

For his part, the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, emphasised the importance of the road sector to the country’s decentralisation programme.

He noted that longstanding structural challenges within the local governance system had hindered effective service delivery, but recent reforms aimed to address the institutional gaps.

Dr Hoedoafia explained that the proposed National Decentralisation Policy for 2026–2030 recommended the establishment of a roads department in every district. This proposal moves away from the current structure that separates feeder roads and urban roads departments.

He said empowering local governments to manage road infrastructure would improve service delivery because they have a better understanding of the specific needs of their communities.

While the Ministry of Roads and Highways would retain responsibility for policy development, monitoring and evaluation, he said implementation should not remain overly centralised.

Joint committee

To advance the process, the IMCC and the ministry agreed to establish a 10-member joint technical committee, with each institution nominating five representatives.