The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has officially marked the climax of a week-long national sanitation and beautification exercise, calling on all Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ensure their jurisdictions are pristine for the upcoming Christmas festivities.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation, the Minister conducted a monitoring tour across key ceremonial routes, including the John Evans Atta Mills Highway and other spots within the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly and Burma Camp. The initiative aimed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the capital and prevent health disasters as the country prepares to welcome international visitors and dignitaries for the holidays.

During the tour at Burma Camp, Hon. Ibrahim met and engaged with personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Prison Service, and Immigration Service who were actively participating in the cleanup exercise. The Minister lauded the "on-the-ground" collaboration, observing the Ghana National Fire Service using water tankers to support the military's weeding fatigue, while other services focused on clearing debris and planning. He noted that this hands-on networking between the security services and the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) sets a "gold standard" for leadership across the country.

“Public service means you are not on your own; once you enter, you have no privacy. This Christmas is about cleaning as part of disaster prevention,” the Minister stated while observing the work. He emphasized that because the municipality houses the President at Jubilee House and the majority of the diplomatic corps, it must remain the cleanest enclave in the country to maintain Ghana's international image.

The Minister announced that the government would intensify the exercise next week by deploying specialized road-sweeping and washing vehicles to "reveal the true color of the roads." He further directed the leadership of LaDMA to provide paint for the medians and walls along the presidential and ceremonial routes.

“We want the impression about Ghana to be that of a neat and clean country. From the airport to the barracks, every area must be cleaned and painted. We will not allow the mounting of unwanted billboards on the medians,” Hon. Ibrahim added.

The Minister commended the security agencies for their proactive stance, noting that cleanliness is a core discipline of the military. He urged them to sustain momentum into the new year, announcing that the first national sanitation exercise of 2026 is scheduled for first Saturday in January.

The Minister concluded by reminding all public officers that while ministers may wear suits, the work of national development is primarily "field work" that requires hands-on dedication.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has convened a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (ICMC) under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, culminating in the election of new ICMC executives and the inauguration of the Jurisdictional Coordination Technical Committee (ICTC).

The meeting brought together key stakeholders and representatives from beneficiary Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies to strengthen coordination and governance arrangements for the effective implementation of the GARID Project.

Following the conduct of elections, the Hon. Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah formally swore in the elected Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives (MMCEs) to serve as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Financial Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the ICMC. The swearing-in marked the commencement of a new leadership phase for the Committee, tasked with providing strategic oversight and inter-ministerial coordination for the Project.

In his remarks, the Deputy Minister underscored the importance of strong leadership, collaboration and accountability in driving the objectives of the GARID Project and urged the newly elected executives to work collectively in the interest of the beneficiary Assemblies and the Greater Accra Region at large.

Subsequently, the newly elected Chairman of the ICMC formally inducted members of the Jurisdictional Coordination Technical Committee (ICTC) into office. The ICTC is expected to serve as the technical backbone of the Project, providing coordination, guidance and advisory support to ensure smooth implementation at the Metropolitan and Municipal levels.

The Chairman charged members of the ICTC to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism and diligence, noting that effective technical coordination would be critical to achieving the resilience, infrastructure and urban development outcomes envisaged under the GARID Project.

The GARID Project, implemented with support from development partners, aims to improve flood risk management, solid waste management and access to basic services in selected Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies within the Greater Accra Region, contributing to sustainable urban development and improved quality of life for residents.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA PR Unit

Rural development must be intentional, gradual, and well-integrated if Ghana is to achieve balanced national growth, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP, has stated.

The Minister made this observation during a courtesy meeting with the Director and Management of the Institute for Rural Development and Innovation Studies (IRDIS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who called to congratulate him on his appointment and to discuss areas of collaboration on rural development.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim welcomed the Institute’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the National Rural Development Policy, describing the support as critical to addressing key national challenges, including rural-urban migration and unplanned urban expansion.

He noted that strengthening rural development systems would help improve livelihoods in rural communities, reduce pressure on urban centres, and contribute to improved food security, better access to healthcare, reduced social vices, and lower unemployment levels.

The meeting discussed areas of collaboration such as promoting sustainable rural livelihoods, institutional capacity strengthening for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and traditional authorities, and technical support to the Ministry in implementing the National Rural Development Policy.

IRDIS also indicated its readiness to support the Ministry through graduate-level training in rural development, research, and innovation to build the human capacity required to drive inclusive rural transformation.

Both parties expressed commitment to sustaining the collaboration to support Ghana’s rural development agenda.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA PR Unit