The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has charged directors and heads of agencies under the Ministry to put their best foot forward as the Ministry prepares to present its 2026 budget to the Parliamentary Select Committee.

She delivered this call during a high-level preparatory meeting held on Wednesday, 26th November 2025, aimed at refining the Ministry’s budget proposals and strengthening the collective readiness of all departments involved.

Hon. Sowah underscored the urgency of correcting all identified gaps within the budget document, stressing that the Ministry must project clarity, confidence and strategic direction during the hearing. She expressed hope that every detail well-aligned with the Ministry’s development priorities. She commended the team for good job done, adding that the budget presentation was very essential for the ministry in terms of carrying out its mandate successfully.

The Director in charge of Budget, Mrs. Freda Faah with support from Mr. Fred Ofasi, a Programs Officer at the Budget Unit of the Ministry, took the Minister, Deputy Minister, Directors and Staff through the proposed 2026 budget. The budget highlighted the Ministry’s strategic vision, and key financial priorities for the ensuing year, which boldly represents what the Ministry stands for. The presentation   sets the stage for deeper internal review and collaboration for the sector.

The meeting brought together heads and representatives from the Ministry’s departments and allied institutions, Institute of Local Government Studies, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, Parks and Gardens, Births and Deaths Registry, Department of Community Development, and the Local Government Service.

This review meeting is instrumental in shaping the final input before the parliamentary engagement.

Source: Nora Mumuni

Public Relations Unit, MLCGRA

As Ghana joined the global community to commemorate 2025 World Toilet Day, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called for renewed commitment to sanitation, describing it as a fundamental human right that must be accessible to every individual.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s celebration, at a news conference by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, on 19th November 2025 in Accra, UNICEF’s Representative Madam Korama Ocran stressed that sanitation should never be viewed as a privilege but as a necessity required for dignity, safety, and healthy living.
She revealed that the world’s rapidly growing population estimated at 3.5 billion people together with the accelerating impacts of climate change, continues to mount enormous pressure on global environmental health and sanitation systems. According to her, the consequences of inadequate sanitation are most severe for women and children, who remain disproportionately exposed to health and safety risks due to the lack of proper toilet facilities.
Madam Ocran therefore called on government to prioritize sustained investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects, describing sanitation interventions as life-saving and essential for community resilience.
She further appealed to the media to intensify advocacy on sanitation, champion national conversations on hygiene, and support behavioral change campaigns. Communities were also encouraged to actively participate in efforts to make Ghana an Open Defecation Free (ODF) country through improved household sanitation and responsible environmental practices.
The 2025 World Toilet Day celebration reinforces the urgent need for collaborative action from policymakers, the private sector, development partners, and citizens to ensure that every Ghanaian enjoys access to safe, dignified, and sustainable sanitation services.
Source: Chantal Aidoo
Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

Government has approved an amount of GH¢400 million for the construction of an Integrated Waste and Compost Plant, a major intervention expected to strengthen Ghana’s waste management system and accelerate progress toward universal access to sanitation.

This came to light at a news conference to commemorate the 2025 World Toilet Day held on Wednesday, 19^th November 2025 in Accra. It was announced by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim.

According to the Minister, the approval marks one of the boldest investments yet in the waste and sanitation sector, made by government aimed at tackling the growing pressure on environmental health, reducing open defecation, and supporting proper treatment and recycling of waste across the country.

Hon. Ibrahim emphasized that Ghana could no longer afford slow progress in sanitation delivery, noting that poor sanitation continues to carry enormous human, environmental, and economic costs. He stressed that the new plant will not only improve waste processing but also contribute to cleaner cities, job creation, and enhanced public health outcomes.

In a firm call to action, the Minister indicated that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have been directed to dedicate a portion of their District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) specifically for water and sanitation improvement projects.

He noted that sanitation is a shared responsibility and that Assemblies must lead with stronger enforcement, infrastructure investment, and community engagement to close the sanitation gap more rapidly.

Citing recent statistics from the Ghana Statistical Service, the Minister highlighted the urgency of the national sanitation challenge, with only twenty-five percent (25%) of households having access to basic sanitation facilities and eighteen percent (18%) of Ghanaians still practicing open defecation.

He called on households, traditional authorities, private sector actors, development partners, religious bodies and the media to support government’s renewed drive for behavioral change and infrastructure expansion.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim also underscored that inadequate sanitation contributes to over 25% of outpatient cases at health facilities, including diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, underscoring the link between sanitation, health, and national productivity.

The Minister reiterated government’s unwavering commitment to achieving the theme for this year’s World Toilet Day, Accelerating Change, Toilet for All, Everyone’s Responsibility.

He expressed confidence that with sustained investment, stronger local government action, and community ownership, Ghana will take significant strides in eliminating open defecation and ensuring every citizen has access to safe, dignified sanitation.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA