The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has underscored the critical role of data in national and local development, as he delivered the keynote address at the official launch of eight Constituency Profile Reports under the Data for Accountability Project (DAP II). The ceremony, held at the Lancaster Hotel in Accra, brought together policymakers, statisticians, civil society actors, development partners, and Members of Parliament.

The reports were developed through a collaborative effort led by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), and On Think Tanks (OTT), with support from the Hewlett Foundation. The profiled constituencies include Akatsi North, Odododiodio, Ablekuma South, Okaikwei South, Amansie Central, Fanteakwa North, Ketu South, Sekyere East, Talensi, and Tano South. These constituencies were strategically selected based on leadership roles within key Parliamentary Committees to align the reports with national legislative and policy priorities.

In his address, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim commended the initiative and highlighted its alignment with the Ministry’s mandate, emphasizing that without reliable data, effective planning, budgeting, and forecasting by Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and particularly the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), would be impossible.

“Evidence-based decision making is the way forward. Reports like these will significantly improve the design and implementation of socio-economic interventions in our districts,” the Minister stated. He further lauded the use of administrative data at the district level to inform the profiling exercise, describing it as a practical demonstration of decentralization at work.

The Minister directed MMDAs covering the selected constituencies to reference the reports in formulating their Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) for 2026–2029. He called for the allocation of adequate resources to ensure that the insights from the reports translate into tangible development outcomes, adding that “each constituency’s development should be guided by the realities on the ground.”

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim also urged Members of Parliament to utilize the reports as tools for advocacy, community engagement, and local development tracking. “These are not just documents to be shelved, they are blueprints for progress,” he said.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has called for a bold and united national effort to drive regional industrialisation and deepen local economic integration, describing it as essential to Ghana’s inclusive growth and development.

Delivering the keynote address at the 3rd edition of the Made-in-Ghana Business Summit held at the Accra International Conference Centre, the Minister highlighted the urgent need to shift from centralised development models toward district-based, community-empowered economic strategies.

“The call to promote regional industrialisation is not just about industry. It is about dignity,” he stated. “It is about empowering our people where they live, decentralising opportunity, and ensuring that every Ghanaian; from Bawku to Axim, can find decent jobs and contribute meaningfully to our economy.”

This year’s summit, held under the theme “Promoting Regional Industrialisation and Business Integration in Ghana,” brought together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, traditional authorities, the diplomatic corps, and development partners to explore sustainable pathways for Ghana’s economic transformation.

Hon. Ibrahim announced a major policy shift in the allocation of resources to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), revealing that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has been increased from 50% to 80% under the leadership of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama. According to him, this increase is not merely a budgetary adjustment but a firm commitment to empowering local authorities with the financial muscle to plan, implement and sustain transformative projects.

He explained that with this increment, Assemblies will be better positioned to expand infrastructure, support youth and women-led enterprises, and deliver real, visible impact in communities across the country. This, he added, would accelerate decentralisation and build resilient, self-sufficient local economies.

The Minister further highlighted how ongoing development programmes are already contributing to this agenda. He mentioned the GrEEn Project, funded by the European Union and the UNCDF, which is creating green jobs in the Ashanti and Western Regions by supporting climate-smart agriculture, waste-to-energy systems and eco-tourism. He also referenced the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, a $150 million World Bank initiative currently being implemented in 48 Assemblies. This programme is aimed at addressing community resilience, strengthening local infrastructure, and improving economic opportunities in vulnerable northern regions.

Additionally, he cited the Ghana Productive Safety Net Programme II (GPSNP II), which has provided labour-intensive job opportunities and critical support to vulnerable households through interventions such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

Hon. Ibrahim announced the successful integration of the Chieftaincy sector into the Ministry’s framework, describing it as a vital step toward enhancing participatory governance. He emphasised the important role of traditional authorities as custodians of land, culture and community stability. Their involvement in resolving land disputes, securing land for agro-industrial projects, and supporting youth entrepreneurship, he noted, is helping to bridge the gap between modern governance and traditional leadership.

“Our chiefs are not relics of the past; they are partners in development,” he said. “Their involvement ensures legitimacy, cultural alignment, and long-term sustainability of projects across the regions.”

The Minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s vision of building a future where no region is left behind. “Our regional industrialisation agenda is not a dream; it is a plan already in motion. The foundation is set. The tools are in our hands. What remains is collective will.”

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Republic of Ghana will solemnly observe a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, an initiative led by the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, as a symbolic and substantive call to spiritual reflection, national gratitude, and renewed unity. The occasion, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of Ghana attaining republican status will be commemorated across all 16 regions and 261 districts, uniting the nation under one collective spiritual canopy.

The announcement was formally made during a high-level engagement between the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Day Planning Committee and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Committee to brief the Minister on preparatory progress and to reaffirm the national vision underpinning the initiative.

Speaking at the engagement, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim underscored the profound spiritual and civic significance of the observance. Drawing inspiration from scriptural principles and historical precedent, the Minister highlighted the transformative power of collective faith, the enduring relevance of divine providence in leadership, and the imperative for national unity in navigating times of change.

    “When a nation pauses to acknowledge the hand of the Almighty in its journey, it opens itself up to restoration, wisdom, and purpose,” the Minister remarked. “This is not just a ceremonial gathering, it is a solemn spiritual reawakening and a shared reaffirmation of our covenant with destiny.”

Reiterating the Ministry’s full endorsement, the Minister called on Ghanaians from all walks of life across faiths, ethnic lines, and political persuasions to approach the day with reverence, sincerity, and a spirit of national solidarity. He urged religious and traditional leaders to play pivotal roles in mobilising citizens toward what he described as “a sacred encounter with the soul of the nation.”

Reflecting on Ghana’s recent political transition in December 2024, which was widely hailed as peaceful and exemplary, the Minister attributed the nation’s stability to divine favour and the resilience of Ghana’s democratic institutions. He noted that Ghana continues to be a shining light of peace and constitutional order within the West African sub-region, and called on citizens to remain vigilant, prayerful, and united.

Chairman of the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Day Planning Committee, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, expressed profound appreciation for the Minister’s support and reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a nationally inclusive, spiritually enriching, and administratively seamless observance.

Themed “Reflect, Reset and Renewal for National Prosperity,” this year’s event aims to inspire introspection on both individual and national levels, encouraging citizens to assess their personal and collective journeys, renew their dedication to Ghana’s development, and collectively pursue the path of peace, progress, and shared prosperity.

Hon. Ankrah emphasized that the Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving transcends religious affiliation or doctrinal boundaries. “This is a national moment of pause and purpose; open to every Ghanaian, regardless of religious or cultural heritage,” he stated. “Our aim is to foster a deeply spiritual atmosphere that transcends partisanship and consumerism, anchoring the nation in values that bind rather than divide.”

Planning activities are already underway across regional and district capitals, with religious bodies, traditional authorities, civil society groups, and political leaders all expected to lend their voices and presence to the day’s observances. The Committee and the Ministry have jointly cautioned against the politicisation or commercial exploitation of the event, insisting that it be preserved as a sacred national ritual of gratitude and hope.

As Ghana prepares to mark this milestone, the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving is poised to become a cornerstone of the national calendar, a symbolic reckoning with the past, a strengthening of the present, and a spiritual invocation for the nation’s future.

Source: Sandra Owusu Asamaoh

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)