The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has concluded a two-day stakeholders’ validation workshop on the Revised National Urban Policy (NUP 2025–2034) and its Implementation Plan. The event, held from August 14 to 15, 2025, at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Accra, marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to shape its urban development agenda for the next decade.

The workshop brought together representatives from key Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), academia, development partners, and urban governance experts. Participants reviewed and refined the draft policy to ensure it responds to Ghana’s evolving urbanisation challenges and is aligned with national priorities and global development frameworks.

The Revised NUP focuses on eight core objectives: promoting spatially balanced and sustainable urban population growth; ensuring effective land use planning and management; promoting climate resilience and environmental quality of life; enhancing urban economic development and city competitiveness; promoting diversified financing for urban infrastructure and services; investing in affordable social housing; promoting urban safety and security; and expanding access to urban infrastructure and services.

These objectives build on lessons from the first National Urban Policy, launched in 2012 following Ghana’s transition to a majority urban population in 2010. The original policy guided several major interventions, including the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP), the Local Government Capacity Support Project (LGCSP) and its successor, the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program (GSCSP), the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP), and the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID). These initiatives improved infrastructure, spatial planning, mobility, slum upgrading, disaster risk reduction, and access to social amenities.

Speaking at the closing session on behalf of the Ministry, the Director of Local Governance and Decentralisation, Pln. Samuel Seth Passah, expressed appreciation to participants for their active engagement and valuable input. He highlighted that the validated NUP would serve as a forward-looking framework for sustainable, spatially integrated, and well-managed urban growth, providing opportunities for all citizens, enhancing infrastructure efficiency, and improving the quality of life across Ghana’s cities and towns.

The way forward will see the Ministry consolidating all recommendations from the workshop, finalising the policy internally, and securing management endorsement. This will pave the way for the preparation of a Cabinet Memorandum and the submission of the policy for Cabinet approval. Upon approval, the Ministry will proceed with the nationwide launch and dissemination of the NUP, ensuring that stakeholders across the country are fully equipped to implement its provisions and steer Ghana towards a more sustainable and well-managed urban future.

With the policy in place, the country is laying the foundation for cities that work for everyone, where opportunities are accessible, infrastructure is efficient, and the quality of life is improved for all.

SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

MLGCRA PR UNIT

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) opened a two-day Technical Working Group session on August 14, 2025, to validate the National Urban Policy (NUP 2025-2034) and Implementation Plan. This crucial step aims to finalise the policy framework, which will guide Ghana's urban development trajectory. The NUP is designed to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban growth, addressing the challenges of rapid urbanisation.

The validation workshop brings together stakeholders from key Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), development partners, and urban governance experts to review and finalise the policy document. The policy's implementation is expected to enhance urban planning, improve service delivery, and foster data-driven decision-making.

By validating the Revised National Urban Policy (NUP), Ghana has taken a decisive step towards advancing its urban development goals. The policy is designed to serve as a comprehensive framework for coordinating urban development efforts across the country, ensuring that growth is both sustainable and inclusive. It will guide the integration of policies, programmes, and investments to create cities and towns that are well-planned, resilient, and economically vibrant.

The NUP also aims to mobilise the necessary resources and strengthen institutional capacity to effectively manage the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanisation. It will support government agencies, local authorities, and development partners in aligning their initiatives with a unified national vision, thereby reducing duplication and enhancing the impact of urban interventions.

With Ghana’s urban population projected to surpass 60% by 2030, the adoption of this policy comes at a critical time. Unchecked urban growth has the potential to strain infrastructure, services, and the environment, but when guided strategically, it can serve as a catalyst for economic transformation, social inclusion, and improved quality of life for all citizens. The NUP provides the tools and principles needed to harness this potential.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chief Director of the MLGCRA, Amin Abdul-Rahaman, the Director for Local Governance and Decentralisation, Pln. Samuel Seth Passah, underscored the transformative potential of the NUP. He stressed that the policy would not only create a coordinated framework for managing urbanisation but also empower individuals and communities to play an active role in shaping their environments. He reaffirmed that the NUP will be instrumental in ensuring that urbanisation becomes a driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and national development.

The successful validation of the NUP signals a renewed national commitment to building sustainable, inclusive, and competitive cities. As the policy moves toward Cabinet approval and implementation, it is poised to transform Ghana’s urban landscape, create equitable opportunities, and improve living standards for current and future generations.

SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

MLGCRA PR UNIT

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) through the Green Cities, Infrastructure, and Energy Programme (GCIEP) to advance sustainable urban development in Ghana. The affirmation came during a courtesy call by Simon Stevens, the head of GCIEP, and his delegation to the Ministry on Monday, 11th August 2025.

The meeting, held at the Ministry aimed to review progress on key interventions under the GCIEP, including the finalized Urban Baseline Study and the near-complete Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for the draft revised National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan. Discussions also focused on strategies to deepen collaboration between both parties to ensure inclusive, resilient, and well-governed urban spaces across the country.

In her remarks, the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP), warmly welcomed the delegation led by Simon Stevens, Head of GCIEP, FCDO. She commended the UK Government’s continued support, describing the visit as “a testament to the growing partnership” between both institutions in addressing Ghana’s urban development needs.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the Urban Baseline Study, finalised in May 2025, provides vital data to inform future planning and interventions in urban areas. She further noted that the M&E Framework, once finalised, will serve as an essential tool to track the effective implementation of the revised National Urban Policy after its approval by Cabinet.

Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah also appealed for the UK FCDO’s continued technical and financial support, particularly for the implementation of the capacity-building plan developed under the GCIEP. The plan is designed to equip technical staff with the necessary skills and resources to effectively execute the Urban Policy, with a call for dedicated funding to ensure sustainability.

Representatives of the GCIEP delegation expressed their readiness to maintain and enhance cooperation with the Ministry, acknowledging the shared vision of promoting sustainable and well-planned urban growth in Ghana. They pledged to explore new avenues for collaboration and support in line with the Ministry’s priorities.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to launching and disseminating the revised National Urban Policy and M&E Framework in the near future, marking another milestone in Ghana-UK cooperation towards sustainable urban governance.