The International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) have paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to express their appreciation for his participation in the 8th Evidence to Action (E2A) Conference.

The delegation, led by senior officials of ICED and ISSER, commended the Minister for delivering a powerful keynote address at the conference, which underscored the importance of evidence-informed participatory governance in advancing sustainable development across Africa.

During the meeting, the delegation lauded the Minister’s emphasis on citizen engagement, inclusivity, and data-driven decision-making, noting that his insights had significantly enriched the conference dialogue. They expressed their readiness to deepen collaboration with the Ministry in order to translate research and evidence into practical governance solutions for Ghana and beyond.

Hon. Ibrahim, in response, thanked ICED and ISSER for the visit and for continuously positioning Ghana as a hub for research-driven policy discourse by hosting the E2A Conference. He reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with academic and development institutions to ensure that policies are grounded in evidence and responsive to community needs.

The Minister assured the delegation that his Ministry remains open to future collaborations aimed at harmonising research, traditional governance, and citizen participation in the national development agenda.

The courtesy call reaffirmed the shared vision of ICED, ISSER, and the Ministry to promote inclusive, participatory, and evidence-based governance as a foundation for sustainable growth.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

A high-level delegation from the Republic of Zambia has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, as part of a study mission to learn from Ghana’s progress in civil registration and decentralization.

The visit forms part of Zambia’s broader efforts to strengthen its civil registration and vital statistics systems. The delegation expressed keen interest in Ghana’s advancements in the Births and Deaths Registry, innovation, and digitalization. These initiatives, they noted, provide citizens with proof of legal identity an essential requirement for accessing social services such as health care, education, and social protection while also equipping government with accurate data for planning, development monitoring, and emergency response.

As part of their engagement, the delegation was introduced to Ghana’s decentralized governance structure. Mr. Seth Passah, Director for Local Governance and Decentralization, provided a detailed briefing on the mandate of the Ministry and its agencies, highlighting the role decentralization plays in strengthening citizen participation and improving service delivery at the local level.

The exchange created a platform for both Ghana and Zambia to share ideas and best practices that could enhance governance systems in both countries. The Zambian delegation is also scheduled to visit various agencies under the Ministry to gain deeper insights into Ghana’s operational frameworks.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming the value of continuous knowledge-sharing and collaboration in advancing good governance and sustainable development.

Source: Melody Hini-Amoako

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

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