Key functional areas of the Institute are the provision of services in the areas of education and training; research and consultancy; and information mobilisation and dissemination for the local government sector in Ghana and the sub region as a whole. In 2003, the institute organised training programmes for a total of 1,189 participants both on and off campus. In its research efforts, ILGS undertook studies into various aspects of local governance including human resources development, community participation, fiscal decentralisation, information communication technology, socio-cultural dynamics and poverty reduction efforts. At least 500 stakeholders participated in its fora and other public meetings.

ILGS provided consultancy support for a number of national and international clients. In Ghana, it organised tailor-made programmes for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Department of Feeder Roads and the Urban V Programme. It assisted the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the Decent Work Pilot Programme in Ghana and supervised the delivery of programmes for the European Union Human Resources Development Programme. The Institute and the UN Gender Programme in Ghana initiated activities to review efforts at promoting gender sensitivity in local governance.

The Institute undertakes education, research and information-dissemination services in the following areas:

• District Development Planning and Management including
• District Development Plan Formulation
• Vision 2020 and the District Assemblies
• Strategic Planning and Management for Local Government
• Public Private Parnerships for Local Level Development including: District Assemblies and Private Sector Partnerships, Partnerships between District Assemblies and Small Enterprises
• Information Management for Local Level Development including: Computer Applications in District Administration and Local Level Development, Management Information Systems, Information Technology
• Good Governance in Local Government including:
  Ethics and Values in Local Government, Managing the socio-cultural environment of Local Government , Non-Governmetal Organisations and Local Government Partnerships for effective Governance
• Natural Resources Management and Environmental Management including: Natural Resources Management concerns in Local Development, Land Management for District Assemblies,
• Water and Sanitation Management at the Community Level
• Gender, Equity and Local Government including
  Women in Local Level Development
• Working with Young People: Responsibilities of District Assemblies
• Leadership, Management and Supervision in Local Government including: The Chief Executive as a Manager,
  The Role of Presiding Members, District Coordinating Directors and Heads of Departments as Managers in the Local Government System
• Financial Management, Budgeting and Accounting including:Budgeting and Accounting , Financial Management for District Level Functionaries , Internal Audit and Inspectorate Functions in Local Level Development
• Local Level Economic Development
• Tourism Development
• Private Public Partnerships for Infrastructure Services Delivery
• Local Government and Poverty Reduction
• Revenue Generation Strategies
• Human Resources Management in Local Government includidng: Training and Development in Local Government,
  Social Services Delivery in Local Government,
  HIV / AIDS and Local Development
• Administration and Organisation in Local Government including: Administrative Skills and
  Communication Skills