The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has called on Ghanaians to embrace unity, humility, and spiritual reflection as pillars for national renewal and development.

He made the call on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, while delivering the welcome address at the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra to mark Republic Day.

Describing the occasion as sacred and deeply meaningful, the Minister noted that the 1st of July holds a special place in Ghana’s history as the day the country attained full republican status in 1960. “This day reminds us that we are a sovereign people, capable of charting our own course under God,” he said.

Hon. Ibrahim emphasized that Ghana’s growth cannot be measured only in political and economic terms but must also be anchored in spiritual depth and moral clarity. “Nation-building is a spiritual journey, rooted in humility, unity, and divine grace,” he stated.

Quoting scriptures, the Minister encouraged citizens to seek God's guidance in national affairs, adding that a people who honour God will see peace, progress, and healing. He expressed appreciation to all stakeholders, especially religious leaders, for their support in making the service successful.

“As we pray for our leaders, institutions, and future, let us walk in unity and rededicate ourselves to building a Republic that honours both God and country,” he concluded.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project Phase II (GPSNP2), has successfully concluded a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Bolgatanga. The training, held under the flagship Livelihood Empowerment and Productive Inclusion Programme (LEPIP), aimed to build the capacity of local actors to implement a skills development programme targeting out-of-school adolescent girls.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from Regional and Municipal Assemblies, including officers from the Departments of Social Welfare, Community Development, Education, Youth, and Enterprise. It marked a key milestone in the national rollout of LEPIP’s skills training component and underscored the Ministry’s commitment to addressing social and economic exclusion among Ghana’s most vulnerable youth.

LEPIP is a transformative government initiative spearheaded by MLGCRA through GPSNP2, with technical and financial support from UNICEF. The programme targets out-of-school adolescent girls between the ages of 16 and 21, equipping them with life skills, vocational and entrepreneurship training, and start-up capital. It also offers complementary support in areas such as nutrition, mentorship, and innovation, with the goal of building socio-economic resilience and breaking the cycle of poverty for participants.

Currently, the programme is being piloted in the Kassena-Nankana and East Mamprusi Municipal Assemblies. Based on early results and stakeholder engagement, MLGCRA plans to scale up the initiative to ten additional Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). This planned expansion aligns closely with national social protection frameworks, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), the Complementary Livelihood and Asset Support Scheme (CLASS), and the Integrated Social Services (ISS) Delivery Framework coordinated by MLGCRA.

Over the course of the training, participants received in-depth instruction in areas such as life skills development, vocational pathways, small business management, and mentorship. The training also introduced participants to digital monitoring tools that will be used to track attendance, implementation progress, and programme outcomes in real time, ensuring a data-driven and accountable approach to delivery.

Speaking at the opening session, the Ministry’s representative highlighted the significance of the programme in restoring dignity and creating opportunity for young girls often excluded from formal development efforts. “LEPIP represents a shared vision of promoting dignity, opportunity, and hope for young people who have often been left behind,” the representative stated.

Ms. Christiana Gbedemah, Social Protection Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, commended the Ministry for its leadership and its prioritization of inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting marginalized adolescent girls and expressed confidence in LEPIP’s potential to create lasting change in the lives of its beneficiaries.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is confident that the workshop has equipped regional and municipal stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to implement LEPIP effectively. It is expected that the training will lead to more coordinated and impactful service delivery at the community level, helping to realize the national vision of a more inclusive and equitable Ghana where every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

In a step toward embedding gender perspectives in public sector planning and programming, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has held a sensitization workshop on gender mainstreaming for its staff.

The initiative, anchored in the Ministry’s 2025 Gender Work Plan and aligned with broader Civil Service directives, sought to deepen understanding and integration of gender-responsive strategies across all departmental operations.

The workshop, held in the Ministry’s Conference Room, was officially opened by the Director, General Administration, Mr. Dela Kemevor. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kemevor emphasized the importance of institutionalizing gender equity as a key pillar of effective governance and inclusive development. He commended the Gender Desk for championing the cause and encouraged participants to fully engage with the content of the training.

Elham Mumuni, Gender Equality Advisor at Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) led participants through an insightful session that unpacked the principles, practices, and impact of gender mainstreaming. From policy formulation to programme implementation, the interactive training highlighted the urgent need to ensure that gender perspectives are not an afterthought but a foundational consideration in public service delivery.

Participants, drawn from various agencies, directorates and units of MLGCRA, engaged in rich discussions, offering reflections from their respective areas and asking critical questions on how best to operationalize gender responsiveness in their day-to-day roles.

In her closing remarks, A Deputy Director at the Ministry and coordinator of the session, Madam Priscilla Attipoe, underscored the relevance of the training in shaping a more inclusive and effective public sector. “After today’s session,” she said, “I urge all of us to wear gender lenses when planning. Let us remember that integrating a gender perspective is not a tick-box activity, it is central to achieving sustainable and people-centered outcomes.”

She further encouraged participants to internalize the knowledge gained and to champion gender-responsive approaches within their teams and departments.

The workshop forms part of the Ministry’s commitment to aligning its operations with national gender equity goals and delivering results that reflect the diverse realities of Ghana’s citizens.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)