The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has reaffirmed commitment to strengthening local economic development through strategic international partnerships.

The move follows a courtesy call by the Ambassador of Spain, His Excellency Ángel Lossada, accompanied by the Economic and Commercial Counsellor and a high-level executive delegation from GB Foods to discuss collaborations and support to strengthen local industries.

During the engagement, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim underscored the vital role of land governance, particularly land held by traditional authorities in driving capital formation, job creation, and investment opportunities at the local level. He indicated that the Ministry serves as an interface between the Traditional Leaders, Religious Bodies and Government and would be ready to t provide the platform for them should the need be. He emphasized that effective land management remains central to Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, which prioritizes community-driven development and economic transformation.

The Minister affirmed the Ministry’s willingness to facilitate engagements with other sector ministries and government agencies to support Spanish investors and partners. He assured the delegation that inter-ministerial cooperation is strong, enabling seamless coordination across agriculture, trade, industry, and related sectors.

Hon. Ibrahim further encouraged continued collaboration with the Embassy of Spain and GB Foods, expressing confidence that such partnerships will deepen investment prospects, enhance local productivity, and contribute to sustainable development outcomes across Ghana’s decentralized regions.

The meeting provided a platform for the Spanish delegation to share perspectives on agricultural advancement, international business standards, and Spain’s experience in promoting natural and sustainable agricultural practices. Ambassador Lossada noted that with the appropriate policy and legislative backing, similar models could be adapted locally to boost productivity and create value within Ghana’s agro-industrial sector.

The Ambassador expressed Spain’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in identifying opportunities that align with Ghana’s local economic development priorities.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), through its Research, Statistics and Information Management (RSIM) Directorate, has taken a significant step toward deepening digital transformation within the Ministry as it engaged key stakeholders in a comprehensive review and training session on the Smart Workplace platform.
The engagement brought together Directors, Project Coordinators and technical officers to enhance their understanding of the platform’s features and how to apply them effectively for improved productivity across the civil service.
The Smart workplace is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative that provides a virtual office platform for government employees. It is a suite of office productivity tools designed to promote collaboration among employees across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Welcoming participants, the Director in charge of RSIM, Mr. Divine Ayejoh, underscored the Ministry’s commitment to embracing technology as a driver of modern governance. He noted that digitization has become indispensable in an era where technology sits at the center of national development.
Mr. Ayejoh expressed confidence that the training would enable participants to fully acquaint themselves with the platform, ensuring a smooth transition when the Smart Workplace becomes fully operational within the Ministry.
Technical experts from E-Solutions and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) facilitated the session, providing an insightful overview of the system. They emphasized that Ghana’s ongoing shift toward a paperless environment calls for digital tools that simplify workflow processes and enhance service delivery.
According to the facilitators, the Smart Workplace platform is designed to be user-friendly, efficient and secure. They highlighted its seamless interface and strong encryption features, developed in line with civil service standards regarding the handling of classified information and document accessibility.
Source: Chantal Aidoo
Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has issued a firm charge to the Ministry’s newly inaugurated Audit Committee, calling for a renewed push to eliminate audit infractions, strengthen internal controls, and ensure strict adherence to public financial management laws. He made the call on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025, during the inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry’s Executive Conference Room.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim emphasized that the Ministry’s financial governance will be assessed by how effectively the Committee enforces audit recommendations and drives compliance with national laws, including the Ghana Audit Service Act (Act 584), the Internal Audit Agency Act (Act 658), and the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921). He reminded the members that their role is not ceremonial but a statutory requirement central to maintaining public trust.

The Audit Committee will be chaired by Mr. Nathan Yankey from the Internal Audit Agency, supported by Mr. Abdul Jaleel Umaru (TBI), also from the Internal Audit Agency, and Ms. Beatrice Omari Panyin, another representative of the IAA. They are joined by Mr. Owusu S. Mensah (Esq.) from the Institute of Internal Auditors Ghana, bringing additional professional oversight to the Committee’s work.

In addition to the core members, senior officials of the Ministry have been co-opted to strengthen the Committee’s operational grounding. These include Mr. Amin Abdul Rahaman, Chief Director; Ms. Delu Konuoua, Director-General; Mr. Eric Bannoryele, Financial Controller; and Mr. Emmanuel Anku, Head of the Ministry’s Internal Audit Unit. Mr. Newroad Aplagah, an Assistant Director, will serve as Secretary to the Committee.

The Minister urged the Committee to maintain independence of judgment, professionalism, and diligence, stressing that their work directly influences the Ministry’s credibility before Parliament, development partners, civil society, and the Ghanaian public. He also encouraged Directors and staff of the Ministry to embrace the Committee as “partners in strengthening institutional performance rather than auditors to be avoided.”

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim assured the Committee of the Ministry’s full support throughout their two-year tenure, committing to provide the resources and information required for effective oversight.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

MLGCRA PR Unit