Ghana has taken a decisive leap toward reshaping the future of its urban spaces with the official launch of the Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy (GSCS), a comprehensive national framework aimed at promoting inclusive, green, resilient, and prosperous urban growth.

The Strategy, launched by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) in collaboration with the World Bank, was unveiled at a high-level ceremony at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The event brought together government officials, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, civil society, academia, and the media.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), described the Strategy as both “a national commitment and a call to action,” and emphasized that the document goes beyond policy to represent “a blueprint for building cities that work for everyone, cities that reflect our resilience, our aspirations, and our shared Ghanaian values.”

With Ghana’s urban population now exceeding 56.7% and projected to surpass 60% by 2030, the GSCS responds to the dual reality of opportunity and challenge. While urbanization continues to drive economic growth and innovation, it also presents pressing problems: inadequate infrastructure, worsening inequality, environmental degradation, and service delivery gaps.

The GSCS sets out four strategic actions to steer the country's urban transformation: targeting rapidly growing cities such as Tamale, Wa, Ho, Sunyani, Techiman, Bolgatanga, and Denu to curb unsustainable growth; prioritizing investment in solid waste management, urban mobility, land administration, and affordable housing; mobilizing local and private capital to bridge infrastructure financing gaps, estimated at $37 billion annually by the Ghana Infrastructure Plan; and enhancing coordination among stakeholders, including local governments, traditional authorities, and development partners, to ensure coherent and impactful urban investments.

The Minister highlighted the significance of a whole-of-society approach: “Sustainable urban development cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires multi-level collaboration across public, private, and community spheres.” He also underscored the importance of culturally grounded and people-centred smart cities, noting that urban development must consider heritage, human values, and the voices of marginalized populations.

In a show of strong international support, World Bank Division Director Robert Taliercio praised the Strategy as a milestone outcome of years of collaboration, noting that Ghana’s cities are poised to become “engines of green growth and inclusive opportunity.” He stressed the need to scale up property taxation, attract private capital through PPPs, and strengthen urban governance as levers for sustainable development.

The GSCS is deeply rooted in robust national data and diagnostics, drawing on the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Ghana Living Standards Survey, and other local studies. It is also aligned with Ghana’s Revised National Urban Policy (NUP), the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals; particularly SDG 11, which calls for inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

The Minister concluded by calling on all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to actively participate in shaping the cities of tomorrow. “Let us choose sustainability. Let us choose equity. Let us choose to build cities that we can all be proud of,” he declared.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has deepened its strategic cooperation with the Swiss Government through a high-level engagement with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aimed at strengthening local governance and advancing sustainable urban development in Ghana.

The meeting, held in Accra, brought together senior officials of the Ministry and Mr. Philip Orga, Head of Operations at SECO, as part of preparatory engagements towards the official launch of the new phase of the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP II).

In his remarks, Mr. Orga reaffirmed SECO’s enduring commitment to supporting Ghana’s decentralisation agenda. He underscored the critical importance of government participation in project field visits, noting that insights from such engagements would play a pivotal role in shaping SECO’s future programming and investments.

    “Our objective is to ensure that our partnership is informed by the real needs of communities. Government participation at the grassroots level helps strengthen that alignment,” he stated.

Key among the issues discussed were the promotion of inclusive governance, economic growth through infrastructure and trade, and the deepening of decentralised development. Mr. Orga also acknowledged Ghana’s progressive local governance reforms and highlighted SECO’s resolve to support improved service delivery at the sub-national level.

Responding to the discussions, the Chief Director of MLGCRA, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman reiterated government’s commitment to deepening decentralisation, disclosing that the current policy review includes proposals for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to enhance public accountability and citizen participation. He further noted that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) will be allocated directly to the districts, a bold step towards empowering local governments to better meet the development needs of their communities.

The dialogue also focused on urban mobility as a national development priority. Both parties reviewed progress under the current phase of the GUMAP project and confirmed plans to expand its coverage to include two new cities, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi under GUMAP II.

Mr. Orga called for updates on stakeholder engagements in the new beneficiary cities and emphasized the need for inclusive planning frameworks that ensure broad-based citizen involvement.

The Ministry, for its part, requested stronger development partner support for sub-district structures, capacity building, and technical implementation support, especially as government accelerates the delivery of decentralised infrastructure and services.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening decentralisation and promoting accountable local governance, with a renewed call for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on a non-partisan basis.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), during a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Decentralised Budget Support held at the Ministry’s conference room in Accra.

The event brought together key development partners including the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Simone Giger, and Mr. Philip Orga, Head of Operations at SECO Headquarters in Bern, alongside top-level representatives from government agencies, civil society, and local governance institutions.

The dialogue focused on Switzerland’s continued support through the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsiveness Factor Grant (DACF-RFG), a key mechanism for empowering local authorities with the resources needed to drive grassroots development.

Hon. Ibrahim underscored the government's resolve to reset Ghana's governance landscape in alignment with the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s 2024 manifesto, which places emphasis on job creation, accountability, and inclusive development. He noted that the election of MMDCEs on a non-partisan basis is a cornerstone of this vision.

Making reference to the 2011 Constitutional Review Commission’s recommendations, the Minister described the current appointive system as undemocratic and inconsistent with Ghana’s broader democratic aspirations. “It is my ardent hope that with your support, we will work together to complete all engagement processes to actualise the government’s vision for the election of MMDCEs,” he stated.

The Minister also revealed that approximately 95% of the President’s nominees for MMDCEs have been confirmed by their respective Assemblies. Orientation and training sessions for the appointees are underway, supported by collaborative programmes with institutions such as the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), to ensure efficient and professional service delivery.

In a broader reform agenda, Hon. Ibrahim disclosed that the Ministry will soon submit several key legislative proposals to Parliament. These include the reintroduction of the University of Local Governance and Development (ULGD) Bill, aimed at providing specialised training for local government officials, and amendments to the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act to enhance spatial development planning.

He further outlined upcoming interventions under the Reset Agenda, including the operationalisation of the National Sanitation Day campaign under the “Clean Up Ghana” initiative, dissemination of the Local Economic Development Policy (2024–2029), and the empowerment of traditional authorities through a Royal Academy initiative.

Development partners commended Ghana’s efforts to strengthen local systems, reaffirming their commitment to provide technical and financial support. The Swiss Government, through SECO, and the German Government via KfW, pledged sustained backing, with additional funds expected to reach over 70 vulnerable districts once ongoing negotiations conclude later this year.

In closing, Hon. Ibrahim called for deeper cooperation and constructive dialogue. “We must reflect, reset, and bolster our decentralisation agenda to ensure development reaches the last mile. Together, we can make this vision real,” he said.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)