Government Begins Process to Devolve Pre-Tertiary Education to MMDAs

Government Begins Process to Devolve Pre-Tertiary Education to MMDAs
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Government initiates legislative process to devolve key pre-tertiary education functions to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, aligning the sector with Ghana’s decentralisation policy.

Accra, Ghana – February 2026

Government has formally begun the legislative process to devolve key pre-tertiary education functions to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, marking a significant shift in Ghana’s education governance framework.

The Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, chaired a joint meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Education led by Chief Director Mrs. Lydia Essuah. Officials of the IMCC Secretariat and members of the Legislative Review Committee also participated in the session.

The meeting signals the start of drafting a Bill that will transfer selected education responsibilities from central government structures to local assemblies. The review process is expected to be completed and submitted to Cabinet and Parliament by June 2026.

Aligning Education with Ghana’s Decentralisation Policy

Ghana’s decentralisation framework, grounded in the 1992 Constitution and subsequent local governance reforms, seeks to bring decision-making closer to citizens. However, the education sector has largely remained centrally managed through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service.

The proposed Bill aims to align pre-tertiary education administration with broader decentralisation objectives. If enacted, MMDAs could assume greater authority over aspects such as:

• Infrastructure planning and maintenance
• Monitoring of basic education delivery
• Local staffing coordination
• Resource allocation oversight

Policy analysts argue that decentralisation in education may improve responsiveness to local needs, particularly in underserved districts.

Addressing Institutional Overlaps

One of the core objectives of the reform is to reduce institutional overlaps between central agencies and local authorities.

Currently, district education offices operate within a framework that often requires approval and coordination with regional and national headquarters. This layered structure can delay decision-making and complicate accountability lines.

The legislative review seeks to clarify roles, redefine reporting structures, and strengthen local governance without undermining national standards.

Observers note that past decentralisation efforts have struggled due to incomplete transfers of authority and limited fiscal autonomy. The success of this reform will depend on whether legal devolution is matched with adequate financial and administrative capacity at the district level.

Strengthening Local Education Management

Supporters of the initiative argue that devolving education functions could:

• Improve monitoring of teacher attendance and school performance
• Enable quicker response to infrastructure challenges
• Increase community participation in school governance
• Strengthen local accountability

However, concerns remain about capacity gaps in some assemblies, particularly in rural districts with limited technical staff.

Education sector unions and civil society groups are expected to closely monitor the drafting process to ensure that teacher conditions of service, curriculum standards, and recruitment systems remain protected under national frameworks.

Political and Administrative Implications

The proposed reform carries both administrative and political significance.

Decentralisation enhances the role of local assemblies, whose political composition often reflects national party dynamics. Transferring education responsibilities may therefore reshape power balances between central ministries and district authorities.

There is also the question of fiscal decentralisation. Without predictable funding flows to MMDAs, devolution risks becoming symbolic rather than operational.

Cabinet and Parliament will ultimately determine the scope of authority to be transferred and the safeguards to maintain national policy coherence.

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Timeline Toward Parliamentary Approval

According to officials at the meeting, the legislative review is expected to be completed by June 2026. After submission to Cabinet, the Bill will proceed to Parliament for debate and possible amendment.

Parliamentary scrutiny is likely to focus on:

• The specific functions to be devolved
• Fiscal implications for central government
• Safeguards for national education standards
• Mechanisms for inter-governmental coordination

Public consultations may also form part of the process, given the scale of the proposed change.

A Turning Point for Education Governance?

If successfully implemented, the reform could represent one of the most significant structural changes in Ghana’s pre-tertiary education system in decades.

The challenge will lie not only in drafting sound legislation but also in building institutional capacity, ensuring financial sustainability, and maintaining equity across districts.

For parents, teachers, and students, the key question remains whether decentralisation will translate into improved learning outcomes and more efficient school management.

As the legislative drafting process begins, stakeholders across the education and governance sectors will be watching closely.