The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has reiterated Ghana’s unwavering commitment to a government-led decentralization agenda aimed at promoting inclusive development, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience across the country.
He made this assertion when he received Her Excellency Annika Hahn-Englund, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ghana, during a courtesy call at the Ministry on Tuesday. The visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for mutual support in local governance and sustainable development.
Hon. Ibrahim noted that the Ministry is playing a central role in driving Ghana’s decentralization process in line with national development priorities. He cited several policy frameworks that are anchoring this transformation, including the National Environment Policy, National Rural Development Policy, National Decentralization Policy and Strategy, and the Environmental and Climate Change Policy.
“These policies collectively provide a strategic foundation for building national resilience, empowering local authorities, and fostering long-term sustainability,” the Minister said. He added that Ghana’s decentralization drive is being reoriented to respond more directly to global shifts toward local governance and grassroots empowerment.
“As you may be aware, this Ministry is advancing decentralization to support inclusive development and climate resilience across all regions. We recognize the growing global emphasis on local governance, and we believe Ghana must be at the forefront of that shift,” he stated.
Hon. Ibrahim further drew attention to the Ghana Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive initiative designed to position Ghana among the leading countries on sustainability and resilience metrics. He emphasized that the strategy reflects Ghana’s commitment to meeting global standards while contextualizing them to fit the country’s unique development needs.
Ambassador Hahn-Englund, for her part, applauded the Government of Ghana for the strategic policies and institutional reforms underway to enhance governance and accountability at all levels. She expressed optimism that the relationship between Sweden and Ghana would continue to grow stronger, particularly in areas such as environmental sustainability, urban resilience, and inclusive local development.