Government officials and development partners have held a two-day conference in Tamale to strengthen collaboration and explore better ways of working together to address development challenges in Northern Ghana.

The conference, dubbed the “Northern Ghana Deep Dive,” took place from March 26 to 27, 2025, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Guest House Conference Hall, with participation from key national and international stakeholders. The event was supported by the UK Government.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs was represented by the Director in charge of General Administration, Mr. Dela Kermevor, who joined discussions focused on improving coordination and impact of development efforts in the North.

The five northernmost regions, along with the Oti Region, remain the poorest in the country, according to the 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Report. The conference aimed to tackle these disparities by aligning the priorities of the incoming Government with those of development partners.

Discussions revolved around three main areas: understanding the new government’s development plans for Northern Ghana, identifying shared goals, and agreeing on effective ways of working together. The forum focused on how to collaborate, rather than what to fund, paving the way for a more strategic and unified approach to development.

By hosting the event in Tamale, organizers ensured the inclusion of regional policy makers and local government representatives whose perspectives are crucial to achieving lasting progress.

The Deep Dive is expected to shape future engagements and reinforce the message that development in Ghana is led by the Government, with international partners playing a supporting role where most effective.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, addressed the Decentralisation Sector Working Group (DSWG) meeting. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministers for Justice and Attorney General, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and development partners, to discuss the Government's decentralisation agenda.

In his speech, Hon. Ibrahim reiterated the Government’s commitment to decentralisation, emphasizing the need for a non-partisan approach to local governance. He stressed that the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should be done on a non-partisan basis, reflecting the Government's focus on deepening democracy at the local level.

"The Government’s Reset Agenda prioritises decentralisation. The overwhelming support we received in the 2024 elections clearly shows that Ghanaians are ready for this change," Hon. Ibrahim said.

The Minister also addressed the constitutional amendments proposed by the previous Government, including changes to Article 55(3) to allow political party participation in local elections and to Article 243(1), which grants the President the power to appoint MMDCEs. Hon. Ibrahim expressed the Government’s belief that such changes are necessary to strengthen local governance, pointing out that the current system is seen as undemocratic.

"We want to ensure that the local government system reflects the true will of the people, free from political party influence," he stated.

Looking ahead, Hon. Ibrahim outlined several key priorities for the Ministry, including increasing the share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) from 5% to 7.5% of national revenue, finalising the Local Government Borrowing Act, and launching initiatives such as the “Clean Up Ghana” project.

Other priorities highlighted by the Minister include finalising the National Decentralisation Policy (2025-2029), the National Rural Development Policy (2025-2034), and the National Urban Policy (2025-2034). Hon. Ibrahim also stressed the importance of capacity building for traditional authorities and religious leaders, as well as strengthening sub-district structures.

The Minister concluded by calling for continued collaboration with development partners to ensure the success of these reforms, stating, “Together, we can reflect, reset, and strengthen the decentralisation agenda for the benefit of all Ghanaians.”

The meeting marked a key step in Ghana's ongoing decentralisation efforts, with all parties expressing their commitment to advancing reforms that improve local governance across the country.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

The National Muslim Conference of Ghana (NMCG) has called on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to engage in discussions centered on the role of education in the country’s development. A significant portion of the conversation focused on challenges within the Islamic education system that the NMCG believes needed urgent attention.

The delegation from the NMCG expressed concerns over bottlenecks and limitations facing Islamic schools, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues to ensure equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of background. The group called on the Minister to lend support to initiatives aimed at enhancing Islamic education, including upgrading infrastructure, improving curricula, and providing better resources for Muslim schools across the country.

Hon. Ahmed acknowledged the concerns raised by the NMCG and affirmed his commitment to collaborating with the Muslim community to address these challenges. He underscored the government’s role in ensuring inclusive education and reiterated the significance of strengthening educational opportunities at the basic level. The Minister emphasized that improving education, particularly within Islamic institutions, would play a crucial role in tackling broader national issues such as child labor and the prevalence of "kayaye" (head porterage).

In his response, the Minister also highlighted the importance of fostering unity among the Muslim community, noting that a unified front would enable them to work more effectively with the government and contribute to shaping national policies. He welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the NMCG, assuring them that their concerns would be taken into consideration in the government's future educational initiatives.

The NMCG delegation expressed their desire for closer collaboration with the ministry, emphasizing that by working together, they could make significant strides toward improving education within the Muslim community and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah/ Melody Hini-Amoako

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)