Kofi Bentil, Vice President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, has formally advocated for a fundamental restructuring of Ghana’s local government system.
His detailed proposal, submitted to the chairman of Ghana’s Constitutional Review Committee, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, calls for the direct election of District Chief Executives (DCEs) and the elimination of Regional Minister positions.
Bentil contends that Ghana’s current governance framework is inefficient and requires transformation starting at the local level. He argues that decentralizing power and enhancing citizen accountability are critical unmet needs within the existing structure. Central to his reform memo is the shift from presidential appointment to the popular election of DCEs. This change, Bentil asserts, would empower local communities directly.
The proposal further recommends replacing the current regional ministerial structure with Regional Assemblies. These assemblies would comprise the elected DCEs from each district within a region. Bentil envisions these assemblies assuming a pivotal role in national governance by electing and appointing Members of Parliament. This model, he suggests, would significantly reduce the size of Parliament and diminish political party influence over local administration.
“The district should be the basic unit of representation not artificial constituencies created by the Electoral Commission,” Bentil stated in his submission. He proposes a significantly smaller Parliament of approximately 100 MPs. These members would be selected through a combination of elections within the new district-based framework and appointments based on professional expertise.
A key element of Bentil’s plan is the complete abolition of Regional Ministers. He views these positions as redundant within a genuinely decentralized system. Under his proposal, the elected DCEs and their collective Regional Assembly would handle both administrative coordination and legislative functions at the regional level, eliminating the need for a separate ministerial layer appointed by the central government in Accra. The memo frames these reforms as essential steps towards creating more competent, accountable, and locally responsive leadership across Ghana.