The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development (MLGDRD)has welcomed a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini on Monday, September 16, 2024, as part of a knowledge-sharing initiative aimed at deepening Eswatini’s understanding of local governance and decentralisation.
The nine-member delegation, comprising two ministers of state and key officials, embarked on this benchmark study visit to explore Ghana’s dynamic local government system, recognized for its structured and comprehensive approach.
The visit comes at a time when the Kingdom of Eswatini is seeking to enhance its local governance framework by learning from best practices across Africa. Ghana, lauded for its progressive and effective decentralisation model, presents a viable case for Eswatini, which is keen to replicate aspects of Ghana’s system that align with its national development objectives.
During the engagement, MLGDRD officials delivered a detailed presentation on Ghana’s local governance structure, followed by an in-depth discussion on the system's implementation across various levels of government. The presentation emphasized the critical roles played by district assemblies, participatory governance, and the strategic decentralisation of public service delivery in fostering national development.
The Chief Director of MLGDRD, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, who chaired the meeting, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Eswatini in its decentralisation efforts. He assured the delegation of Ghana’s readiness to offer guidance throughout their journey toward establishing a more robust and inclusive local government system.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the leader, Hon. Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, underscored the significance of the visit, describing it as a pivotal step in Eswatini’s quest to strengthen its local governance. He expressed admiration for Ghana’s achievements and noted that the lessons learned would be instrumental in shaping Eswatini’s approach to governance at the grassroots level.
The study visit underscores the importance of peer learning and collaboration between African nations as they work to enhance governance and promote sustainable development across the continent.
SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah
(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)