The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has called for stronger and more efficient mechanisms in resolving chieftaincy disputes, warning that unresolved conflicts threaten peace, stability, and development.

He made the call in Ho, when he officially opened a two-day capacity building workshop for Judicial Committees of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs. The programme, held at the Regional House of Chiefs Conference Hall, brought together traditional leaders, registrars, committee members, and stakeholders to sharpen skills in adjudicating disputes and strengthening the chieftaincy institution.

Hon. Ibrahim underscored the critical role of Judicial Committees in upholding fairness, preserving dignity, and safeguarding harmony in traditional leadership. He stressed that when left unresolved, disputes have the potential to disrupt lives, destabilize communities, and derail development projects.

“The Judicial Committees must be empowered with the knowledge and tools to deliver justice efficiently and effectively. A credible and respected dispute resolution process is key to peace and progress in our communities,” he said.

The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting traditional leadership through ongoing reforms and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening decentralisation and deepening the role of chiefs in national development.

He commended the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, the leadership of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, and other stakeholders for making the workshop possible, and urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to learn and share experiences.

The two-day workshop is expected to serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaboration towards promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Volta Region and across the country.

SOURCE: STEPHANIE EDEM KLUTSEY

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has convened a high-level multi-sectoral engagement workshop at the Palms by Eagles Hotel to advance implementation of the National Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Sanitation Management Services (SMS) Plan.

The forum served as a platform for collective reflection on Ghana’s sanitation challenges and the strategies required to accelerate progress. Deliberations revealed that the nation must construct at least 617,000 toilets annually until 2030 to bridge the existing infrastructure gap and meet its sanitation targets.

In his keynote, Dr. Tsekpetse-Akuamoah Kweku underscored the urgency of coordinated action, noting that open defecation undermines public health, environmental integrity, and national development. He called for cross-sectoral collaboration, stressing that “the fight against open defecation cannot be left to a single ministry or institution.”

Participants highlighted the twin priorities of behavioral change and infrastructure provision. They emphasized the integration of sanitation into education, health delivery, public communication, and community mobilization, alongside investments in durable household and public facilities.

The workshop concluded with a consensus on establishing a national coordination platform, mainstreaming sanitation priorities into development planning, and strengthening monitoring and accountability systems.

These outcomes represent a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6, and reaffirm the nation’s resolve to secure safe, clean, and sustainable sanitation services for all citizens.

SOURCE: STEPHANIE EDEM KLUTSEY

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)

 The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has called on women to rise as agents of change, urging them to embrace mentorship, community service, and advocacy as tools for transformation.

Addressing the Seventh-Day Adventist Church National Women’s Ministries Prayer Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, Hon. Sowah stressed the need for women to seek spiritual renewal and allow God to pour his love, wisdom and strength on them, to serve their church, home and community with impact and authority.

She was making reference to the Theme for the National Prayer Conference; ‘Fill my Cup Lord: Set free and send. She underscored the importance of women’s roles in families, workplaces, and communities, noting that true empowerment comes from balancing care for others with self-renewal and urged the women gathered to break the chains of oppression, defend justice, and be fearless voices for the voiceless.

Turning her attention to national issues, Hon. Sowah re-echoed government’s National Sanitation Day initiative, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month, appealing to women of faith to actively participate in clean-up exercises, citing sanitation as one of Ghana’s most pressing challenges.

“Our sanitation situation is quite serious. We still practice open defecation in some areas, have poorly maintained toilets, and poor solid waste management, and these practices pollute our water sources, contaminate our air, and cause diseases. We must act” she emphasized.

Hon. Sowah reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to partnering with faith-based organisations like the SDA Church to drive social and moral transformation and charged participants to of the National Women Prayer Conference to remain resolute, hopeful, and purpose driven.

The conference is an annual event, hosted by the Southern Ghana Union Conference of the SDA Church. This year’s event, brought together hundreds of women leaders, church officials, and community members united in prayer and advocacy for spiritual renewal and national development.

Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, His Ex. Roey Gilad commended the Women’s Ministry of the Adventist Church for their role in supporting the vulnerable and called for prayers for to help end the Gaza war.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA