In December 1982, the PNDC announced a plan to decentralize government from Accra to the regions, the districts, and local communities, but it maintained overall control by appointing regional and district secretaries who exercised executive powers and also chaired regional and district councils. Local councils, however, were expected progressively to take over the payment of salaries, with regions and districts assuming more powers from the national government. In 1984, the PNDC created a National Appeals Tribunal to hear appeals from the public tribunals, changed the Citizens' Vetting Committee into the Office of Revenue Collection and replaced the system of defence committees with Committees for the Defence of the Revolution.
in dEcEMber 1982, the pNdC AnnounCed a PlAn To DEceNtRAlizE GoveRnmENt FRom ACcRa To tHe rEgions, the dIstricTs, aND LocaL CoMmunItIEs, buT IT maiNtAINed OveralL Control by appoinTiNg REGionaL AnD dIsTRIcT seCReTAries who EXErcised exECUTive powers anD alSo chaIrED regionaL and DiStricT CouncIlS. lOCAl CouNcIls, HoWEvER, weRE eXpectEd ProgrEssivELy tO TAKe oVer the paYment oF salaries, WIth rEgiOns aNd distRiCts AsSuMinG More poweRs frOm The national govERnmenT. IN 1984, tHe pndc creaTEd a NatioNal aPpEAls TRibunaL To HEaR appeals from the PubLIC tribunAls, cHAngEd The citizenS' VETting COMmITtEe iNtO tHe ofFicE of rEvenue collectioN and ReplacED tHE systEm oF defENce cOmMIttees with coMmittEeS for the DefeNce of the rEVolutIOn.