The 2nd Prof. S. N. Woode Memorial Lecture held at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Ogbojo, on Friday, 29th August 2025, became a strong platform for reflecting on ethics and professionalism in Ghana’s governance system.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said the legacy of the late Professor Samuel Nunoo Woode offers timeless lessons on integrity, accountability, and service to humanity.

“Professor Woode was not only a scholar of Public Administration and Ethics but a man who lived by the very principles he taught. For him, ethics was not theory—it was a way of life. Any erosion of ethical values in public service weakens democracy and undermines development,” the Minister observed.

Hon. Ibrahim commended ILGS for its continuous role in building capacity for local governance but urged the Institute to deepen its training programmes on ethics and values. He emphasised that professionalism without ethics risks arrogance and abuse, while ethics without professionalism can lead to inefficiency.

The Minister also expressed concern that despite anti-corruption laws and parliamentary oversight, integrity challenges remain. “If we cannot comply with basic rules and ethics, the cost of running government becomes unmanageable. How do we inspire the next generation to embrace ethics when we fail to lead by example?” he asked.

He urged stakeholders to strengthen professional development for local government officials, uphold ethical standards that safeguard against corruption and abuse of office, and rebuild public trust by making ethics and professionalism the foundation of governance.

“Our journey towards better governance is a lengthy process, not a quick one,” Hon. Ibrahim concluded. “Let us honour the memory of Prof. Samuel Nunoo Woode not only with our words but with our actions.”

The memorial lecture, instituted in 2023, seeks to celebrate the life and contributions of Prof. Woode, a champion of ethics, professionalism, and decentralisation in Ghana’s public administration.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has announced a renewed directive on sanitation as government prepares for the official relaunch of the National Sanitation Day (NSD) by President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

Addressing journalists at a press engagement with Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the Greater Accra Region, Hon. Ibrahim said the briefing was to “set the tone, outline expectations, and provide clear directives” ahead of the President’s relaunch of the flagship Clean Up Ghana Agenda.

“This is not business as usual,” the Minister stressed. “All public spaces, ceremonial streets, and visible nuisances within your jurisdiction must be cleared by 8:00 a.m. every day, beginning tomorrow, September 4. Assemblies must sustainably demonstrate that unsightly scenes of filth have been eliminated.”

The Minister outlined three main objectives of the NSD relaunch: restoring discipline and national pride in public spaces, empowering assemblies through sanitation-focused KPIs for MMDCEs, and fostering citizen participation and accountability. He further revealed that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund had already been released, giving Assemblies the resources to deliver results.

To strengthen accountability, a dedicated sanitation hotline and a central monitoring dashboard will be introduced to track performance. Assemblies will also be required to submit monthly sanitation reports through their Regional Coordinating Councils.

Hon. John Dumelo (MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon) and Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture spoke on behalf of Members of Parliament in the region. He said the MPs were committed to supporting the President’s renewed sanitation drive because cleanliness was directly tied to the health and wellbeing of their constituents.

> “It doesn’t make sense that we produce so much food, yet we eat in a dirty environment. Our call is simple: sanitation must become a non-negotiable priority. We cannot have Madina clean, Ayawaso West dirty, and Amasaman clean again. The Greater Accra Region must set the pace for the rest of the country,” Hon. Dumelo charged.

On behalf of the MMDCEs, the Dean of MMDCEs and MCE for Ga West, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, pledged the Assemblies’ full commitment. He announced the formation of sanitation task forces and coordinators in every electoral area and disclosed plans to introduce a monthly sanitation calendar involving government agencies and corporate bodies.

The Minister urged the media to partner government in mobilising citizens and sustaining the message. “Sanitation is a shared responsibility. Improved sanitation worldwide is built on the attitude of the people. The media must help us shape that attitude,” he said.

As President Mahama prepares to relaunch the initiative at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Madina on Saturday, Hon. Ibrahim insisted that “the work has already begun.”

“A cleaner Ghana is possible. A healthier Ghana is possible. With leadership, discipline, and citizen action, we can transform the sanitation landscape of this nation,” he concluded.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann
(MLGCRA PR UNIT)