The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, together with his Deputy and senior officials of the Ministry, has held a working meeting with officials from the World Bank to review the implementation status of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP).

The engagement, held at the Ministry’s conference room in Accra, provided a platform for both sides to take stock of progress made under the programme, deliberate on challenges affecting implementation, and discuss the possibility of an extension to ensure the successful completion of ongoing interventions.

In his remarks, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim commended the World Bank for its continuous partnership and technical assistance towards Ghana’s urban development and decentralisation efforts. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to the effective delivery of the GSCSP, noting that the programme remains a key vehicle for improving infrastructure, strengthening local governance systems, and enhancing service delivery in selected secondary cities across the country.

Officials from the World Bank, in their response, lauded the Ministry for its leadership and coordination of the programme and expressed the Bank’s readiness to continue its collaboration with government to resolve outstanding implementation and financial management issues.

The meeting also examined critical operational areas including project disbursement, performance indicators, and compliance obligations. Both parties agreed to develop a joint action framework to address pending issues and sustain the programme’s overall impact.

The Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme is a Government of Ghana initiative supported by the World Bank to promote balanced urban development, strengthen the capacity of Municipal Assemblies, and advance the country’s decentralisation and local governance agenda.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Stephanie Edem Klutsey
MLGCRA Public Relations Unit

The second day of the 2nd Global Saemaul Undong Ministerial and Leadership Meetings in Gyeongju featured a series of thematic seminars, where participating countries examined practical approaches to adapting the Saemaul spirit to local contexts.

Delegates were divided into regional clusters, with Asia, Africa, and Oceania hosting parallel seminars. Each session provided a platform for countries to share experiences, discuss implementation strategies, and highlight how community-led development can be tailored to diverse governance systems and cultural settings.

Ghana, participating in the Africa seminar, joined counterparts from across the continent in exploring how the Saemaul model can complement ongoing decentralisation reforms and strengthen grassroots-driven development. The discussions underscored Africa’s shared priorities of empowering local governments, improving rural infrastructure, and building resilient communities.

In addition, a joint seminar convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Saemaul Undong International Center focused on “Strengthening Local Governance through Saemaul Undong for Effective Implementation of the SDGs.” Speakers emphasised the importance of participatory governance, accountability, and the alignment of Saemaul principles with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The day’s sessions reaffirmed that while development contexts differ across regions, the core values of diligence, self-help, and cooperation remain central to mobilising communities and advancing inclusive growth.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA Public Relations Unit

Gyeongju, Republic of Korea – September 17, 2025 — Ghana has underscored its commitment to advancing community-led development and decentralisation reforms at the 2nd Global Saemaul Undong Ministerial Meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea.

The gathering, hosted by the Korea Saemaul Undong Centre under President Gwang-Lim Kim, marked the 55th anniversary of the Saemaul movement and brought together global ministers and development leaders. President Kim highlighted the enduring values of diligence, self-help, and cooperation as universal drivers of sustainable progress.

Leading Ghana’s delegation, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, delivered a national statement emphasising Ghana’s alignment with these principles. He outlined reforms to introduce the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), alongside investments in rural infrastructure and livelihoods through projects such as the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project II and the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project.

The Minister also emphasised accountability and innovation, citing tools like the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsive Factor Grant (DACF–RFG) and a Digital Development Data Platform, which are enhancing transparency across districts. He stressed that Ghana’s approach, while inspired by Korea, is firmly rooted in its own governance traditions and cultural sustainability.

Hon. Ibrahim reaffirmed Ghana’s strong partnership with the Republic of Korea, referencing recent bilateral discussions on waste management, circular economy practices, and urban resilience. He pledged Ghana’s commitment to deepening cooperation and sharing lessons with other African nations through South–South and Triangular Cooperation.