THIRD ANNUAL PROFESSOR KWAMENA AHWOI LECTURES ON DECENTRALISATION
THEME:
REFLECTIONS ON DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN GHANA
The Third Edition of the Annual Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi Lectures on Decentralisation is a significant platform dedicated to promoting dialogue, reflection and informed discussion on Ghana’s decentralisation and local governance system.
Organised by the Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG), the lecture is centred on the theme “Reflections on Decentralisation and Local Governance in Ghana.” The programme provides an opportunity for policymakers, local government practitioners, academics, development experts, traditional stakeholders and members of the public to examine Ghana’s decentralisation experience, its achievements, persistent challenges and the opportunities for strengthening local governance.
The lecture honours the contribution of Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, an expert and consultant on decentralisation and democratic transitions, whose work and scholarship have contributed significantly to discussions on Ghana’s local governance framework.
The 2026 edition features a distinguished line-up of public figures and governance experts, including Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chairman of the Electoral Commission, as Keynote Speaker; Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, as Guest of Honour; and Hon. Ebi Bright, Mayor of Tema, as Moderator. Dr. Gamel Kewuribe Dominic Hodoafia, PhD, Executive Secretary of IMCC, serves as Chairman, while Dr. Richard Fiadomor, PhD, President of ChaLoG, serves as Host.
The programme is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October 2026, at 2:00 PM at Mensvic Hotel, Accra, Ghana.
Through the lecture series, ChaLoG continues to create space for constructive engagement on the future of decentralisation, democratic participation and local development in Ghana. The discussions are expected to contribute to broader efforts aimed at building responsive, accountable and effective local governance institutions capable of supporting sustainable national development.
The Annual Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi Lectures therefore represents not only a tribute to an influential voice in Ghana’s decentralisation discourse, but also a continuing platform for knowledge-sharing, reflection and forward-looking conversations on the future of local governance in Ghana.
PROFILE OF SPEAKERS
PROF. KWAMENA AHWOI
(Int. Expert & Consultant on Decentralization & Democratic Transitions)
Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi is a prominent Ghanaian scholar, public administrator and governance expert associated closely with Ghana's decentralisation programme. He has served as a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and continues to contribute to policy and institutional discussions on decentralisation. In 2025, he was appointed chair of the IMCC Legislative Review Committee, which was tasked with reviewing Ghana's legal and institutional framework for decentralisation
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan – Keynote Speaker
Former Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan is a Ghanaian political scientist, academic and former Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, a position he held from 1993 to 2015. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has had a long career in political science and electoral administration. His background in democratic institutions and elections is particularly relevant to discussions about democratic participation and local governance.
Hon. Mahama Ayariga – Special Guest of Honour
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
Hon. Mahama Ayariga is the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and, as of September 2026, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. He is a lawyer by profession and holds an LL.M from Harvard Law School. He has served in several public and ministerial positions and has been a Member of Parliament across multiple parliamentary terms
Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia – Chairman
Execcutive Secretary (IMCC)
Dr. Hoedoafia is the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC). He has more than 20 years of experience in public policy, governance reform and public-sector performance management in Ghana and the UK. He holds a PhD in Public Administration and Policy Management from the University of Ghana and an MA in Social Policy from Oxford Brookes University. His current work involves coordination and oversight of Ghana's decentralisation reform process.
Hon. Ebi Bright – Moderator
Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly
Hon. Ebi Bright is the Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly. She has over two decades of professional experience spanning communication, entrepreneurship, media production, corporate strategy and public service. She holds an MA in Global Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London, and a first-class degree in Development Communication. Her role as Mayor gives her direct experience with metropolitan administration and local development
Dr. Richard Fiadomor – Host
President of the Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG)
Dr. Richard Fiadomor is the President of the Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) and a local governance commentator. He has been active in national discussions concerning Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, decentralisation, sanitation, Assembly Members and local development. He has also served on the IMCC Legislative Review Committee alongside Prof. Ahwoi and other governance specialists.