The Bono East Region has successfully concluded its session of the two-day regional-based Local Economic Development (LED) Policy Sensitisation Workshop, aimed at raising awareness of the LED (2024–2029) Policy and its accompanying Practitioners' Manual. The workshop also sought to enhance local-level capacity, encourage stakeholder engagement and feedback, promote inter-agency collaboration, and explore sustainable funding avenues to support local economic initiatives.
This sensitisation workshop forms part of a broader series scheduled from August 17 to September 2, 2025, taking place across five regions: Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Greater Accra. Each regional session has been tailored to reflect the unique development priorities and opportunities of the area, ensuring the policy’s implementation is both contextually relevant and impactful.
Held on August 21 and 22, 2025 in Techiman, the Bono East workshop provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the policy framework and their roles in its effective implementation. The sessions included presentations, interactive dialogue, among others offering a collaborative platform for knowledge exchange and strategic planning.
The LED Policy is designed to foster an enabling environment for local business development, the creation of decent employment, and inclusive economic empowerment. It outlines eight key policy objectives centred on building local capacity, strengthening institutional frameworks, and promoting a business-friendly atmosphere that aligns with the socio-economic realities of Ghana’s Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
A key highlight of the workshop was the introduction and sensitisation on the Network for Inclusive Local Economic Development (NILED), a collaborative initiative between the MLGCRA and GIZ’s Support to the Private and Financial Sector (PFS) programme. NILED is intended to facilitate the successful rollout of the LED Policy, offering a structured platform for stakeholder collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordination. It acts as a “one-stop shop” for MSMEs and jobseekers, delivering services such as capacity building, market access, job matching, and policy advocacy.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), with support from GIZ, through its Support to the Private and Financial Sector (PFS) programme under the NILED initiative, launched the two-day regional-based sensitisation workshop to disseminate the LED (2024–2029) Policy and Implementation Plan. The initiative is a significant step towards strengthening regional and local institutions, improving coordination, and empowering communities to drive their own economic transformation. With sustained stakeholder engagement and resource alignment, the LED Policy is set to become a key catalyst for inclusive and sustainable local economic development across Ghana.
SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah
MLGCRA PR UNIT