German-Swiss partnership unveils PAIReD initiative to boost local governance capacity

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) have once again joined forces to advance local governance, public service delivery, and improved accountability processes in the country.

Building on previous collaboration, the joint engagement in the field of decentralization is being continued with the implementation of the program, Participation, Accountability, and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD).

PAIReD is commissioned by the BMZ, co-financed by the European Union and SECO, and implemented by GIZ jointly with the Ministry of Finance and other key implementing partners like the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD) and the National Development Planning Commission.

To launch the joint program and highlight the relevance of the decentralization reform, key representatives from the Government of Ghana, civil society organizations, and the German and Swiss Governments, as well as development partners, came together on September 18, 2024, in Accra.

Following the ceremonial launch of the initiative, the representatives of relevant institutions participated in a planning session to outline the details for a one-year work plan.

The engagement of PAIReD in the field of decentralization aims to support parts of the National Decentralization Policy Strategy 2020-2024 of Ghana.

In close alignment with the objectives of the strategy, the cooperation seeks to make Ghana’s system of intergovernmental transfers and local public finances more efficient and transparent by supporting the implementation and review of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Framework.

It also aims to strengthen the capacities of state institutions in the country to effectively integrate development planning, budgeting, and land-use planning at the sub-national level through improved data management and improve capacities of key public accountability institutions at national and subnational levels to respond to citizens' demands for accountability and transparency.

Director of Research Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Divine Ayidzoe, stated, “The social impact of decentralization has been evident through enhanced service delivery and community engagement in development projects.”

Acting Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland to Ghana, Togo, and Benin, Magdalena Wuest, highlighted that decentralization is in Switzerland's DNA.

“We have seen firsthand how important it is to deliver services as close to the citizens as possible. We are very pleased to support Ghana in the implementation of the PAIReD project,” she said.

By strengthening the MMDAs, the districts will be better able to deliver much-needed services to Ghanaian citizens.

Coordinating Director, Ministry of Finance, David Collison, remarked, “Accountability is the cornerstone of a democratic society. Strengthening accountability mechanisms ensures that public officials and institutions are held to the highest standards of integrity and transparency.”

Country Director of GIZ Ghana, Dr. Dirk Aßmann, directly addressed the Ghanaian partners, saying, “We have been supporting the decentralization agenda of Ghana for recent years, and we feel privileged to continue this support through the PAIReD program on behalf of the German development cooperation, the Swiss economic cooperation, and the European Union – and in close partnership and cooperation with all of you.”