Establishment

The Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) is a public management development institution established under an Act of Parliament, 647 of 2003. The Institute was commissioned in 1999 as a project of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as part of efforts by the Government of Ghana to equip the local government system to play a pivotal role in development and poverty reduction.

Mission

To strengthen the capacities of district assemblies, regional coordinating councils and other interested parties to deliver efficient and effective local governance in Ghana by providing excellent management education, training and development, research and consultancy and information mobilization services.

Vision

To be a centre of excellence for building, strengthening and consolidating local governance in Ghana for the delivery of sustainable decentralized development.

Functions of the Institute

The main functions of the Institute as per Section 4 of Act 647 are to:

• Arrange courses, workshops, seminars and conferences for persons engaged in areas of local governance;
• Prescribe the qualification of persons eligible for training at the Institute;
• Undertake and promote research in local government;
• Develop training materials for members of the Regional Co-ordinating Cuncils, Distric Assemblies, and other local government units;
• Publish literature relevant to local government;
• Develop specialized libraries for purposes of local government;
• Provide consultancy and advisory services to the Central Government, units of local government and any other body that may require those services;
• Collaborate with national and international institutions of relevance in the performance of its functions;
• Award certificates, diplomas and higher qualifications as may be agreed upon by the Institute and approved by the national Accreditation Board and
• Perform other functions assigned to it by the sector Minister