The Head of the Local Government Service, Proefessor Lord Kwaku Mensah, has led the launch of the Local Government Service IT Infrastructure and Systems Improvement Programme (LITISIP), a Smart Cities initiative aimed at transforming local government services through digital technology.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Professor Mensah said the programme would go beyond connecting government offices by extending digital services and connectivity to communities across the country.
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“Our objective is not merely to connect offices. We are building the foundation upon which our Assemblies can become digital hubs for the communities they serve,” he said.
Professor Mensah said the initiative would enable citizens to access digital government services while creating opportunities for young people to acquire digital skills, students to access educational resources and entrepreneurs to connect with markets.
“Our vision, therefore, is not simply ‘connected government’. Our vision is ‘connected communities’,” he stated.
He said LITISIP would also support the development of smart services in areas such as waste management, public safety, environmental monitoring, education, healthcare and citizen engagement.
According to him, the programme would enable Assembly managers to access timely information to improve decision-making and make local government services faster and more responsive.
“A Smart City is fundamentally about using technology, connectivity, data and innovation to improve the quality of life of people and make public services more efficient, responsive and accessible,” he explained.
Professor Mensah, however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on more than the installation of digital infrastructure, noting that the Local Government Service must also strengthen cybersecurity and build the capacity of its ICT personnel.
“We must invest in our people, strengthen cybersecurity, build the capacity of our ICT personnel and ensure that the infrastructure we establish is properly managed and sustained,” he noted.
He said the programme would also support the government’s digital transformation agenda and create opportunities within the digital ecosystem to drive economic activity and support the 24-hour economy.
Professor Mensah said the true measure of the programme’s success would be its impact on ordinary citizens rather than the number of sites connected or equipment installed.
“Its true measure of success will be whether a citizen in a district experiences better, faster and more accessible services because of the investment we are making today,” he said.
ANAS/MA
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