The Paramount Queenmother of the Mampong Traditional Area, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, has led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to express the profound appreciation of the Mampong Traditional Council for the Ministry’s support during the one-week observation and final funeral rites of the late Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and former Member of the Council of State.

The visit, which took place at the Ministry on Tuesday, 24^th June, 2025, was a symbolic gesture of gratitude to the Minister and his team for standing in solidarity with the people of Mampong during their period of mourning. Nana Agyakoma Difie II, speaking on behalf of the delegation, emphasized that the presence and contributions of the Ministry brought honour and comfort to the bereaved traditional area.

She recalled that prior to the funeral rites, she had officially called on the Minister to inform him of the passing of the late Daasebre Osei Bonsu II. In response, the Minister had assured the delegation of the Ministry’s full support, in recognition of the late Chief’s service to national development and the chieftaincy institution.

“True to his word, the Honourable Minister extended immense support to us, both in representation and in resources, which we do not take for granted,” the Mampong Hemaa stated.

On his part, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, reiterated the government’s respect for traditional authorities and its commitment to strengthening the institution of chieftaincy. He described the late Mamponghene as a statesman of high repute whose wisdom and leadership left a lasting imprint on Ghana’s governance and traditional landscape.

The meeting concluded with assurances of continued collaboration between the Ministry and the Mampong Traditional Area in advancing the role of traditional leadership in national development.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

In a bold reaffirmation of Ghana's commitment to inclusive growth and decentralised governance, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Swiss Government, officially launched the Ghana Cooperation Programme (2025–2028) of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. 

The launch, attended by high-level dignitaries including His Royal Majesty Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, the Osu Mantse; Her Excellency Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; and Ms. Janine Walz, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy, marked a significant milestone in a 23-year development partnership between Ghana and Switzerland. 

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), highlighted the Programme’s central focus on deepening decentralisation, promoting sustainable urban mobility, enhancing environmental integrity, and driving inclusive economic growth. 

“This programme is more than a development framework it is a partnership for transformation,” the Minister stated. “It aligns perfectly with Ghana’s Revised National Urban Policy and the recently launched Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy, and it reaffirms our shared vision of building a resilient, inclusive and prosperous nation.” 

Over the years, SECO’s interventions in Ghana have supported institutional reform and improved local governance through landmark initiatives such as the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsive Factor Grant (DACF-RFG), which has delivered over 8,000 community infrastructure projects, and the Responsive, Effective, and Efficient Local Governance in Ghana (REELG) project, which trained over 7,900 Assembly Members and built leadership capacity across 40 MMDCEs. 

Equally notable is the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP), launched in 2016, which has significantly improved public transport planning and urban mobility within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. Building on this momentum, GUMAP Phase II is in preparation, backed by a proposed USD 6.9 million grant from SECO. The new phase will expand to include Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi, focusing on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. 

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim also underscored Switzerland’s critical role in promoting macroeconomic resilience, youth employment, and environmental stewardship. “The Ghana Cooperation Programme’s commitment to environmental integrity recognises the pivotal role of local governments in implementing climate-smart and green growth policies,” he noted. 

The Minister expressed Ghana’s deep appreciation to the Swiss Government and people for their consistent and meaningful support. “Your partnership is not only financial, it is a vote of confidence in our democratic and developmental journey,” he remarked. 

The Ghana Cooperation Programme (2025–2028) is poised to accelerate Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, strengthen institutional frameworks, empower local authorities, and deliver sustainable development outcomes at the grassroots level. 

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann 

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA) 

The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has received a team from the World Bank and its technical partners as part of an ongoing Mid-Term Review Mission of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project.

The review mission is a key component of the project’s accountability and learning process, aimed at assessing progress, identifying implementation challenges, and refining the strategy for the remaining project period.

As part of the mission activities, the team paid a courtesy call on the Ministry to officially inform leadership of the commencement of the review. The visit also served as a platform to highlight the purpose of the mission, engage in frank dialogue on project performance, and reaffirm the shared commitment to ensuring the success of the SOCO Project in Ghana.

During the briefing session, the team outlined the main objectives of the Mid-Term Review. These include assessing the status of ongoing project activities across all components, reviewing the consistency of project delivery with its original design, and determining what adjustments may be needed to better respond to the current realities on the ground. The review also seeks to examine institutional coordination, the status of financial flows, and the functionality and sustainability of completed and ongoing infrastructure.

The Ministry expressed its appreciation to the World Bank for its continued technical and financial support and acknowledged the collaborative efforts between national and regional stakeholders in implementing the project. It further assured the mission team of its commitment to address identified gaps and strengthen coordination to enhance the pace and quality of delivery moving forward.

The Mid-Term Review of the Gulf of Guinea SOCO Project comes at a crucial time in the project cycle and is expected to provide valuable insights to inform the remaining years of implementation. Both the Ministry and its partners remain confident that the review process will contribute meaningfully to improving outcomes and ensuring lasting impact for the communities the project serves.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit-MLGCRA)