The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has welcomed a high-level delegation from the newly established Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA), a civil society organisation championing ecosystem-based responses to climate change. The engagement formed part of AC4NCA’s broader stakeholder outreach strategy to introduce its mission and explore avenues for collaboration with government in fostering climate resilience and sustainable development.

The delegation, led by the esteemed Board Chair of AC4NCA, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, held strategic discussions with senior officials of the Ministry on aligning efforts to localise climate action through nature-based solutions (NbS). AC4NCA, though only three months in operation, has positioned itself as a pan-African platform for promoting community-led, ecologically sustainable interventions that align with both the Paris Agreement and local development needs.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of the Ministry, Mr. Dela Kemevor, Director of General Administration, extended a warm welcome to the delegation and conveyed the Ministry’s appreciation for AC4NCA’s vision and proactive approach. He commended the Centre’s emphasis on nature-based and community-driven strategies, noting their critical relevance in responding to the growing threats posed by climate change.

Mr. Kemevor underscored the important role civil society organisations can play in complementing government interventions. “Our Ministry is committed to driving resilience at the grassroots level,” he stated. “We see a strategic opportunity in this engagement with AC4NCA to integrate innovative, locally anchored nature-based solutions into ongoing programmes across the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).”

He further highlighted ongoing initiatives being implemented by the Ministry to enhance environmental sustainability and climate resilience, including mainstreaming climate change into local development plans and supporting sustainable land use practices. He expressed confidence that a partnership with AC4NCA would amplify these efforts through synergies in advocacy, implementation, and community mobilisation—especially leveraging the Ministry’s networks with traditional and religious leaders.

In her presentation, Rev. Dr. Aryee introduced AC4NCA as a pan-African civil society platform grounded in the belief that African communities possess the indigenous knowledge, adaptive capacities, and collective will to respond to the climate crisis. She highlighted the Centre’s thematic priorities, including reforestation, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and climate-smart agriculture, all tailored to respond to the continent’s unique vulnerabilities.

“Africa contributes the least to global emissions but remains among the most affected by the climate crisis,” she remarked. “At AC4NCA, we are committed to changing this narrative, not by lamenting our vulnerability, but by transforming it into action through inclusive, grassroots-driven climate solutions.”

The delegation reiterated the Centre’s commitment to social equity, gender inclusion, and youth empowerment, noting that their programming will deliberately engage women, young people, indigenous communities, and marginalised groups. These are often the most affected by climate change, yet are custodians of valuable ecological knowledge and resilience strategies.

Both parties expressed optimism about deepening collaboration in the coming months and pledged to identify immediate and medium-term entry points for joint action. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fostering strong institutional linkages that will accelerate climate action through locally owned and ecologically sustainable solutions.

Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

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)