The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, (MLGCRA) Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to lead decisive local action in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), at the Sustainable Mining Ecosystem Conference and Exhibition (ECOSUM CONFEX 2025), Hon. Sowah described the Assemblies as the first line of defence against environmental destruction and called on them to take bold steps to protect Ghana’s rivers, forests, and farmlands.

The two-day conference, held from 29th to 30th July 2025 at the National Theatre in Accra, was themed “Restoring the Blue Waters and Green Environment Initiative for a Sustainable Ecosystem – The Role of Multi-Stakeholders and Leadership”. It brought together key players from government, traditional leadership, civil society, and the mining sector to deliberate on the restoration of ecosystems severely affected by unregulated mining practices.

In her address, the Deputy Minister urged Assemblies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance into their core operations, particularly in permitting, inspections, and community monitoring. She further advised MMDAs to strictly enforce land use regulations to prevent mining near water bodies, sacred groves, and protected forests. Environmental taskforces, including the Blue Water Guards, she added, must be strengthened and well-resourced to clamp down on illegal mining hotspots.

Calling illegal mining a “socio-cultural and governance emergency,” the Deputy Minister warned of its far-reaching consequences; contaminated rivers, degraded ancestral lands, reduced agricultural productivity, and heightened insecurity. She called for fearless enforcement of anti-galamsey by-laws by MMDAs, while urging traditional authorities to withhold land from unlicensed miners and promote communal vigilance.

To address the root causes of galamsey, Hon. Sowah announced that the Ministry is collaborating with sector ministries and private partners to introduce youth-focused training programmes in agribusiness, green construction, and eco-tourism. The initiative aims to offer sustainable livelihoods to young people in mining areas and discourage their involvement in illegal mining. She noted that traditional and faith-based institutions are also being engaged to provide moral guidance and mentorship.

The Deputy Minister underscored the crucial role of traditional and religious leaders, describing them as “pillars of moral authority and cultural custodians.” She encouraged them to champion ESG principles, safeguard sacred natural sites, and facilitate productive dialogue between Assemblies and communities.

She concluded by reminding stakeholders that the path to a sustainable mining ecosystem begins at the community level. “The restoration of the blue waters and green environment will not be achieved solely through policies crafted at the center, but by the decisions taken in our communities,” she said. Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah expressed confidence that the ECOSUM CONFEX 2025 will spark the partnerships and momentum needed to secure a greener and more resilient Ghana for future generations.

President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to embrace a new national culture rooted in prayer, thanksgiving, and humility before God. He made the call during the Christian Interdenominational Service held at the Forecourt of the State House as part of the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving to commemorate Republic Day.

In a deeply reflective keynote address, the President declared that July 1 would no longer be observed merely as a political milestone, but as a day when the nation pauses to return to its spiritual roots.

    “Thanks to your prayer and faith, July 1st will no longer be remembered only as our Republic Day. It will now be enshrined as our National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving,” he proclaimed.

Quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14, President Mahama reminded the nation that divine healing and national restoration are only possible through humility, repentance, and earnest prayer:

    “Today, Ghana has humbled herself. Today, Ghana has gathered together in prayer.”

The President emphasized that beyond politics and governance, Ghana's destiny rests in the hands of a faithful God and a morally upright people. He urged Ghanaians to pursue forgiveness, national unity, and a spirit of gratitude, especially in times of adversity and uncertainty.

The Christian Interdenominational Service brought together leaders and congregants from various Christian denominations, showcasing Ghana’s vibrant ecumenical tradition. Among the notable speakers were Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, who spoke about moral leadership and spiritual accountability, and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, who led fervent prayers for national protection, gratitude, and divine favour.

President Mahama expressed hope that the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving would become a lasting legacy for generations to come, a moment each year when the nation lays aside all divisions and seeks the face of God.

    “Let this be the day Ghana renews her covenant with God. Let this be the day we remember that the strength of a nation is found not only in its laws or leaders, but in the prayers of its people.”

The event was attended by the Vice President, Her Excellency Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, senior clergy, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, the diplomatic corps, and thousands of citizens who joined in worship and national reflection. and reflection.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

In fulfillment of part of the reset agenda on decentralisation, government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has released an amount of GHS 23,621,000, being payment of allowances for District Assemblies to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.

Being part of the frontline men and women that represent government at the local level, the President believes thatit is prudent to ensure the welfare of the members so they can deliver on the President’s mandate and use the resources allocated to the Assemblies for its specific goal.

At a press conference on Monday, 14th July, 2025 at the Ministry’s conference room, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, reiterated that government’s move is aimed at improving service delivery at the local level as the former status quo had impacted negatively on the performance of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

It is for this reason, he said, that President John Dramani Mahama has committed eighty percent (80%) of the District Assemblies Common Fund to MMDAs, adding that government allocated One Hundred Million Ghana Cedis (GHS 100,000,000) in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy aimed at paying all the nine thousand and eighty- five (9,085) Assembly Members across the two hundred and sixty - one districts.

Hon. Ibrahim mentioned that out of the GHS 100,000,000, the Ministry of Finance had released twenty - five million Ghana Cedis (GHS 25,000,000) as payment for the months of April and May. He stressed that each assembly member receiving one thousand three hundred Ghana cedis (GHS 1,300) as their monthly allowance, and thus with the current release, each assembly member was entitled to Two-Thousand, Six Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS 2,600.00).

He further noted that government will deepen its commitments to MMDAs as part of the resetting and decentralisation agenda to provide adequate resources and logistics at the local level to promote effective service delivery.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

Following recent issues with Parks and Gardens Land encroachment, management has met to discuss effective ways to reclaim all encroached lands as part of efforts to protect state lands under local governance and ultimately aid national development.

The meeting which was held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), saw management in a discussion around the protection of lands of Parks and Gardens land and other State lands of the ministry across the country.

The discussions of the meeting centered around the need to take inventory of the lands of Parks and Gardens as well as other properties of the ministry, take steps to ascertain the status of certification of all the lands and holistically formulate a binding policy to protect these lands.  

Present at the meeting were the honourable Minister-designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the Chief Director of the ministry, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Land Use and Spatial Authority (LUSPA), and other officials from the ministry.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Sandra Owusu Asamoah & Ernest Tweneboah Koduah

               (Public Relations Unit, MLGDRD)