The Local Government Service was established by an Act of Parliament in 2003. H E John A Kuffour, the president of the Republic of Ghana inaugurated the Service in December 2007.
The Service have the mandate of overseeing Ghana Government policy on decentralization of central administration to the local level. This policy is aimed at grassroot participation of local people in governance and owning of development programmes.
The Secretariat therefore exist to assist MMDA's to carry out this devoluted functions. The Secretariat is also to assist MMDA's in building human capacity to ensure effective and efficient mobilization and utilization of resources to enhance development thereby reducing poverty.