Ghana recently hosted a high-level four-member delegation from the Republic of Liberia, led by Hon. Edward K. Mulbah, Deputy Minister for Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as part of a South-South Exchange Learning Visit under the United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) mechanism.
The five-day visit, which took place from April 22 to 26, 2025, was jointly facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) and UNCDF Ghana. It formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen climate adaptation strategies and promote sustainable development through mutual learning and cooperation between developing countries.
The visit officially commenced with a ceremony held in Accra, where Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, Chief Director of the MLGCRA, welcomed the Liberian delegation on behalf of the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim. In his remarks, Mr. Abdul-Rahaman praised the enduring partnership between the Ministry and UNCDF, citing Ghana’s achievements under the LoCAL mechanism since 2015, including the execution of over 60 climate-resilient projects and the creation of more than 2,300 jobs through initiatives such as the GrEEn and LoCAL-ACE projects.
“This visit represented a significant milestone in deepening collaboration, facilitating knowledge exchange, and strengthening the bonds between our two nations,” Mr. Abdul-Rahaman noted. “Through peer learning and shared experiences, we seek to foster resilient, climate-smart communities for the future.”
During the programme, the Liberian delegation participated in technical orientation sessions, courtesy calls, and field visits to selected districts implementing LoCAL in Ghana. They explored the operationalization of Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs), witnessed climate-smart investments firsthand, and engaged with local government actors. Practical learning components, including peer shadowing, case study analysis, and action planning workshops, enhanced the overall knowledge exchange.
The visit supported Liberia’s ongoing efforts to scale up the LoCAL mechanism, in alignment with national development priorities under the ARREST Agenda—which stands for Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Tourism—and its commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Lessons drawn from Ghana’s model—particularly its focus on local ownership, policy integration, and performance-based funding—are expected to inform Liberia’s future implementation roadmap.
Representatives from UNCDF Ghana also shared in-depth experiences from the LoCAL-ACE project, which promotes climate resilience through adaptive capacity enhancement, and the GrEEn Project (Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities), which supports youth employment and green businesses while advancing environmental sustainability. These projects have created impact across 13 municipal and district assemblies in the Ashanti and Western Regions. The importance of institutional collaboration, capacity building, and robust performance monitoring was emphasized as critical to advancing local climate adaptation efforts.
Following the successful completion of the Ghana leg of the exchange programme, a follow-up training and stakeholder engagement workshop is scheduled to be held in Monrovia, Liberia, from June 8 to 11, 2025. Ghanaian specialists and UNCDF staff are expected to lead technical sessions and field visits to support Liberia’s emerging LoCAL programme.
Through this South-South exchange, Ghana and Liberia have set a strong foundation for enduring intergovernmental collaboration, working together to empower vulnerable communities to better withstand the growing impacts of climate change.
Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah/Melody Hini-Amoako
(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)