The ILGS was established by the Institute of Local Government Studies Act, 2003 (ACT 647) and governed by a Council made up of the Director of the Institute a Chairperson and representatives of the  Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, National Development Planning Commission, National Association of Local Government Authorities of Ghana, Public Services Commission, Local Government Service ,  National Council for Tertiary Education and three other persons of whom at least one shall be a woman.
The objectives of the Institute are to organize the training of
members of the Regional Coordinating Councils, District Assemblies and lower local government units;
staff and personnel in the local government and related sectors; and
any other person or body, local or foreign interested in governance,
to enhance the managerial, administrative, financial and operational efficiency of organs and units of local government.

ILGS is collaborating with CHF in promoting and sustaining dialogue on urbanization and its management. In this regard, CHF has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute and has organized the Urban Forum with the Urban Platform and E-Platform as some of the products of the collaboration.
ILGS also has partnerships with JICA, SNV and GTZ


MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The Ministry is responsible for coordinating the activities of the decentralization processes and the local government bodies. The Local Government Department of the Ministry is more permanent, but often times other departments are attached and detached in Ministerial realignments.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development exists to promote the establishment and development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local government for the people of Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.
This will be done by:
Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and coordinating reform policies and programs to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.
Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for mobilizing and harnessing local resources for local national administration and development.
Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community and popular participation and promoting orderly human settlement development
Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.
Facilitating horticultural development.
Improving the demographic database for development planning and management.

The Ministry currently has a representative on the WASH-UP Steering Committee.