The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has deepened its strategic cooperation with the Swiss Government through a high-level engagement with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aimed at strengthening local governance and advancing sustainable urban development in Ghana.

The meeting, held in Accra, brought together senior officials of the Ministry and Mr. Philip Orga, Head of Operations at SECO, as part of preparatory engagements towards the official launch of the new phase of the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP II).

In his remarks, Mr. Orga reaffirmed SECO’s enduring commitment to supporting Ghana’s decentralisation agenda. He underscored the critical importance of government participation in project field visits, noting that insights from such engagements would play a pivotal role in shaping SECO’s future programming and investments.

    “Our objective is to ensure that our partnership is informed by the real needs of communities. Government participation at the grassroots level helps strengthen that alignment,” he stated.

Key among the issues discussed were the promotion of inclusive governance, economic growth through infrastructure and trade, and the deepening of decentralised development. Mr. Orga also acknowledged Ghana’s progressive local governance reforms and highlighted SECO’s resolve to support improved service delivery at the sub-national level.

Responding to the discussions, the Chief Director of MLGCRA, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman reiterated government’s commitment to deepening decentralisation, disclosing that the current policy review includes proposals for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to enhance public accountability and citizen participation. He further noted that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) will be allocated directly to the districts, a bold step towards empowering local governments to better meet the development needs of their communities.

The dialogue also focused on urban mobility as a national development priority. Both parties reviewed progress under the current phase of the GUMAP project and confirmed plans to expand its coverage to include two new cities, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi under GUMAP II.

Mr. Orga called for updates on stakeholder engagements in the new beneficiary cities and emphasized the need for inclusive planning frameworks that ensure broad-based citizen involvement.

The Ministry, for its part, requested stronger development partner support for sub-district structures, capacity building, and technical implementation support, especially as government accelerates the delivery of decentralised infrastructure and services.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening decentralisation and promoting accountable local governance, with a renewed call for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on a non-partisan basis.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), during a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Decentralised Budget Support held at the Ministry’s conference room in Accra.

The event brought together key development partners including the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Simone Giger, and Mr. Philip Orga, Head of Operations at SECO Headquarters in Bern, alongside top-level representatives from government agencies, civil society, and local governance institutions.

The dialogue focused on Switzerland’s continued support through the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsiveness Factor Grant (DACF-RFG), a key mechanism for empowering local authorities with the resources needed to drive grassroots development.

Hon. Ibrahim underscored the government's resolve to reset Ghana's governance landscape in alignment with the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s 2024 manifesto, which places emphasis on job creation, accountability, and inclusive development. He noted that the election of MMDCEs on a non-partisan basis is a cornerstone of this vision.

Making reference to the 2011 Constitutional Review Commission’s recommendations, the Minister described the current appointive system as undemocratic and inconsistent with Ghana’s broader democratic aspirations. “It is my ardent hope that with your support, we will work together to complete all engagement processes to actualise the government’s vision for the election of MMDCEs,” he stated.

The Minister also revealed that approximately 95% of the President’s nominees for MMDCEs have been confirmed by their respective Assemblies. Orientation and training sessions for the appointees are underway, supported by collaborative programmes with institutions such as the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), to ensure efficient and professional service delivery.

In a broader reform agenda, Hon. Ibrahim disclosed that the Ministry will soon submit several key legislative proposals to Parliament. These include the reintroduction of the University of Local Governance and Development (ULGD) Bill, aimed at providing specialised training for local government officials, and amendments to the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act to enhance spatial development planning.

He further outlined upcoming interventions under the Reset Agenda, including the operationalisation of the National Sanitation Day campaign under the “Clean Up Ghana” initiative, dissemination of the Local Economic Development Policy (2024–2029), and the empowerment of traditional authorities through a Royal Academy initiative.

Development partners commended Ghana’s efforts to strengthen local systems, reaffirming their commitment to provide technical and financial support. The Swiss Government, through SECO, and the German Government via KfW, pledged sustained backing, with additional funds expected to reach over 70 vulnerable districts once ongoing negotiations conclude later this year.

In closing, Hon. Ibrahim called for deeper cooperation and constructive dialogue. “We must reflect, reset, and bolster our decentralisation agenda to ensure development reaches the last mile. Together, we can make this vision real,” he said.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has held a national validation workshop to finalize the revised Environmental Sanitation Policy (ESP), National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), and Strategic Environmental Sanitation Investment Plan (SESIP). The event took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra and brought together stakeholders from government agencies, development partners, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

The Deputy Minister, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP), who delivered the welcome statement on behalf of the sector Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasized the need for a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking sanitation policy framework to respond to Ghana’s growing population and urbanization challenges. She stated that the revised documents reflect new thinking, strategic direction, and stakeholder inputs gathered over a year and a half of consultations across all levels national, regional, and district.

According to the Deputy Minister, the 2021 Population and Housing Census indicates that access to basic sanitation (exclusive household use) remains low at 25.3%, while open defecation reduced only marginally from 19% in 2010 to 17.7% in 2021. Handwashing with soap practices have also declined from 48% in 2017 to 41.5% in 2021.

These statistics, she noted, call for urgent, coordinated action by all stakeholders to reverse the trend.The revised policy aims to address these gaps by providing a clear implementation framework, an investment plan, and actionable strategies to improve sanitation outcomes nationwide. It also aligns with Ghana’s national development agenda and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). An assessment by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in 2023 identified sanitation as the most interlinked SDG area in Ghana, influencing progress in education, health, productivity, and environmental sustainability.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that five SDGs have been prioritized by the NDPC for targeted attention, with SDG 6.2, which focuses on ending open defecation and ensuring access to sanitation and hygiene taking center stage. She reiterated that achieving these goals requires a collective effort, adding, “Sanitation is everybody’s responsibility, and the Ministry cannot do it alone.”

Participants at the workshop reviewed the revised policy framework and discussed strategies for effective implementation, including financing, institutional responsibilities, social behavior change, and infrastructure development. The documents are expected to be submitted to Cabinet for approval following the validation exercise.

The Ministry expressed appreciation to all stakeholders including development partners such as the World Bank for their continued support and contributions to the review process. The final policy documents are expected to serve as a guiding framework for sustainable sanitation service delivery and environmental management across Ghana.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)