The Norwegian government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Ghana’s sustainable urban development and local governance initiatives. This assurance was given by Norway’s Ambassador to Ghana, Dr. John Mikal Kvistad, during a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, in Accra.

Dr. Kvistad commended Ghana for its practical and proactive approach to implementing development cooperation programmes, describing the country as a trusted and forward-looking partner. He emphasized that Norway remains committed to strengthening its collaboration with Ghana, particularly through ongoing projects that promote sustainable cities, inclusive governance, and data-driven development.

He highlighted the Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme, jointly implemented with UN-Habitat and funded by the Government of Norway, which supports ten cities across the country to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ambassador noted that the initiative’s data-driven and impact-oriented approach is helping cities plan more effectively, improve service delivery, and build resilience in line with Ghana’s national development strategies.

Dr. Kvistad also acknowledged the long-standing partnership between Ghana and Norway. He added that the recently signed bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries provides a solid framework for even deeper collaboration in key sectors of mutual interest.

In his remarks, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the Government of Norway for its continuous partnership and technical support. He said Ghana’s Smart SDG Cities Initiative represents a bold national effort to transform cities and communities through smart urban planning, digital innovation, and inclusive development, in line with Agenda 2030 and Ghana’s long-term vision.

The Minister outlined progress made so far, including the onboarding of ten participating Assemblies, establishment of District Implementation Committees, capacity-building workshops for local government officials, and preparation of Voluntary Local Review Reports (VLRs). He said these activities are helping to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and improve the coordination of sustainable urban policies.

Hon. Ibrahim reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to building cities that are smart, equitable, and sustainable, emphasizing that with Norway’s continued partnership, Ghana could serve as a model for Smart SDG localization across Africa. He expressed optimism that the strengthened cooperation between the two countries would lead to even greater progress in advancing shared goals for climate resilience, innovation, and inclusive urban development.

SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

MLGCRA Public Relations Unit

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the United Kingdom to promote sustainable urban development and climate resilience across Ghana’s cities.

He gave the assurance when the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Christian Rogg, paid a courtesy call on the Ministry on Friday, 7th November 2025to formally introduce himself to the Minister while familiarizing himself with the policies and programmes of the ministry and possible collaborations the two countries could have.

Welcoming the High Commissioner and his team, Hon. Ibrahim commended the United Kingdom for its longstanding support through the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), particularly under the Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIEP). He emphasized that this partnership continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing urban resilience, unlocking climate financing, and promoting sustainable infrastructure in Ghana.

According to him, the Ministry values the United Kingdom’s continuous partnership, which has aided in laying a strong foundation for sustainable city development through robust data, planning, and performance tracking tools.

He highlighted key achievements under the GCIEP, including the completion of a comprehensive Urban Baseline Assessment Report, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework to track urban policy outcomes, and a Capacity Needs Assessment Report to guide institutional strengthening.

The Minister further revealed that the collaboration has also supported climate risk mapping, mobilization of climate finance, and the review of faecal sludge treatment feasibility studies in Wa, Bolgatanga, Yendi, Techiman, and Sunyani with the hope of gaining additional funding from the European Union, European Investment Bank, and Invest International for project completion.

In the same spirit of progress,  he said the GCIEP is also partnering with the Ministry to develop an integrated road and drainage feasibility study for the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, aimed at improving mobility, trade, and flood resilience in the twin cities.

On the way forward, Hon. Ibrahim extended an invitation to the British High Commission to join other development partners working with the Ministry in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Cities Strategy, launched earlier this year with World Bank support, stating that, the strategy focuses on tackling challenges of rapid urbanization, including mobility, housing, waste management, spatial planning, and governance.

In his submission, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Christian Rogg, expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness to continue its collaboration with Ghana in building resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable cities, acknowledging the Ministry’s leadership in driving innovative solutions to local governance and urban development, indicating that they have also worked with other development partners towards similar development in the Northern sectors.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

Fragmentation, weak regulation, and traditional financing models can no longer drive Ghana’s sanitation transformation. This was the resounding message at the closing of the 36th MOLE Conference on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which ended on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Marlin Resort in Gomoa-Fetteh.

Addressing participants, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, stressed the urgency for a harmonised, data-driven, and transparent regulatory framework to ensure equitable and resilientu WASH service delivery nationwide.

He noted that “the WASH sector cannot continue to operate in silos,” adding that Ghana’s progress demands coherence, professional standards, and reliable enforcement of sanitation by-laws across all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Hon. Ibrahim underscored that harmonised regulation is the backbone of public trust, private sector confidence, and quality service delivery. The Ministry, he said, would collaborate with Parliament and sector agencies to strengthen regulation and operational clarity from national to district levels.

On financing, the Minister emphasised that achieving safely managed water and sanitation services for all requires bold and innovative financing models. “Vision requires resources,” he asserted, calling for diversification through public-private partnerships, blended finance, sanitation levies, and climate financing mechanisms.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to create enabling conditions by expanding private sector participation, widening the fiscal space for sanitation, and strengthening local government financing frameworks.

Highlighting innovation as a “strategic requirement,” Hon. Ibrahim urged stakeholders to support local innovators and youth-led WASH solutions that reflect Ghanaian realities. He called for investment in climate-smart sanitation technologies, digital monitoring systems, and faecal sludge management solutions to drive sustainability and inclusion.

The Minister described the MOLE 36 communiqué as a national call to action, urging all stakeholders to translate conference deliberations into measurable outcomes through policy advocacy, technical collaboration, funding commitments, and research.

He also announced that government is upgrading the Environmental Health and Sanitation Units at the MMDAs into full-fledged departments, in line with the 2016 NDC manifesto, and will soon reactivate the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group to enhance sector coordination.

Concluding his remarks, Hon. Ibrahim called for unity, commitment, and innovation anchored in local context, stressing that “WASH is not a sectoral concern; it is a national development priority and a human right.”

The MOLE 36 Conference, convened by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), brought together government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, civil society, and academia to review progress and renew strategies for achieving Ghana’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 commitments.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA PR Unit