Ghana’s Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, joined ministers and leaders from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and South Korea at a Welcome Dinner in Seoul on 16th September 2025. The dinner marked the official opening of the 2nd Global Ministerial Saemaul Meeting and the Global Leadership Saemaul Meeting.

Delegates were received with South Korea’s renowned cultural hospitality, setting a warm and collegial tone for the four-day programme. The occasion provided space for informal exchanges, where participants shared experiences and began fostering networks ahead of the formal deliberations.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, who is leading Ghana’s delegation, used the opportunity to connect with counterparts from partner countries and reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to the Saemaul spirit of diligence, self-help, and cooperation.

The Welcome Dinner also reflected the broader purpose of the meetings — building stronger ties among nations while adapting the Saemaul Undong model to today’s development challenges.

The main conference sessions are expected to focus on global cooperation in social assistance and protection systems, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of the Saemaul Undong movement, which transformed rural Korea and continues to inspire grassroots-led development worldwide. Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann MLGCRA Public Relations Unit

The two-day National Dialogue on Decentralisation and Responsive Governance has ended in Accra with a strong national call to reset Ghana’s decentralisation framework for responsive local governance and effective service delivery.

Convened by the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) with support from key partners, the Dialogue brought together stakeholders including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Heads of Departments, Civil Society Organisations, development partners, traditional authorities, academia, and the media. The Vice President of the Republic, Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, officially inaugurated the Dialogue.

Participants acknowledged that nearly four decades after Ghana embarked on its decentralisation journey, the country stands at a defining moment that demands consolidation and reform. They stressed that decentralisation remains central to deepening democracy, empowering citizens, strengthening accountability, and improving the delivery of essential services.

The Dialogue recognised notable progress since 1988, including improved intergovernmental transfers and enhanced citizen engagement, but identified persistent challenges such as fiscal constraints, capacity gaps, and duplication of administrative roles. It emphasised the need for reforms that ensure coherence, sustainability, and inclusiveness in local governance.

At the end of deliberations, participants adopted several key resolutions — including a call for a new National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2026–2030) that secures sustainable financing for local governments, deepens political decentralisation through the election of MMDCEs, strengthens accountability, and institutionalises citizen participation and traditional authority roles in governance. The Dialogue further urged the development of robust monitoring mechanisms to track progress and ensure measurable service delivery outcomes.

In a communiqué signed by the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafi, participants reaffirmed the collective commitment of government, civil society, traditional leaders, development partners, and citizens to reset Ghana’s decentralisation agenda to meet the of changing needs of communities and achieve inclusive, responsive, and people-centred governance.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA Public Relations Unit

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Honourable Ahmed Ibrahim, has underscored decentralisation as the foundation of Ghana’s renewed development drive under the Reset Agenda of President John Dramani Mahama. He said this at the National Dialogue on Decentralisation and Local Governance held in Accra.

Honourable Ibrahim affirmed that the Ministry remains committed to deepening local governance and strengthening the decentralisation framework to empower citizens and promote inclusive growth. He stressed that decentralisation is not just a structural reform, but a people-centred approach that enables government to respond directly to community priorities.

The Minister announced that government has released GH¢2 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), one of the most significant disbursements in recent years. This, he explained, reflects President Mahama’s renewed resolve to adequately resource Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to accelerate local-level development and service delivery.

He called on Assemblies to prioritise citizen participation, ensure accountability, and strengthen local revenue mobilisation to sustain progress at the grassroots. “When governance is felt in the lives of ordinary people—when schools improve, health centres function, and markets thrive—then decentralisation is truly working,” he said.

Honourable Ibrahim commended the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD) for effectively coordinating sectoral reforms and reaffirmed the Ministry’s determination to consolidate progress, harmonise policies, and build stronger collaboration among state institutions, civil society, and traditional authorities.

The National Dialogue on Decentralisation and Local Governance, held under the theme “Strengthening Local Governance for Inclusive Development,” brought together Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, development partners, civil society organisations, and private sector representatives to review achievements, address gaps, and align strategies for sustainable local governance.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT