The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on traditional leaders in the Bono East Region to strengthen their collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to accelerate local development and economic growth.

This call came during his maiden engagement with the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs in Techiman, where the Minister underscored the pivotal role of chiefs and religious bodies in fostering peace, unity and progress in their communities.

According to him, government cannot achieve transformation by itself at the local level without the support and collaboration of Traditional Leaders. It is for this reason that MMDCEs are working closely with traditional authorities to ensure inclusive and sustainable development across the country.

The Minister revealed that several road projects in the region including the Tano North, Bonkrase, Nkoransa North, and Jaman Nkwanta and the Atebubu to Kwame Danso roads have been awarded to contractors and are expected to commence soon. He emphasized government’s commitment to continue and complete all uncompleted projects to improve infrastructure and livelihoods.

He also spoke about government’s commitment to find a lasting solution to the water problem in Atebubu, stating that this issue was beyond the MMDCEs as Atebubu has a peculiar challenge hence he will discuss it at a higher level so that the citizens of Atebubu will have good clean water.

Highlighting the government’s flagship programmes, the Minister mentioned the apprenticeship initiative targeting 550 youth in various trades, as well as the Feed Ghana programme, which is being implemented in collaboration with the second cycle institutions, adding that MMDCEs have been tasked to build a 24 hour ultra-modern model markets and will visit the traditional leaders to access lands for the project.

He added that 19 paramountcy across the region have been visited by Regional Minister, Hon. and their developmental concerns are being addressed, including projects in education, health and sanitation.

Touching on chieftaincy issues, the Minister disclosed that a committee has been constituted to amend portions of the Chieftaincy Act that has contributed to recurring disputes. This is to ensure peace, unity and integrity within the chieftaincy institution.

He further assured that the Regional House of Chiefs’ building project would be fast-tracked, same as the allowances for the Judicial Committee would be expedited to ensure smooth adjudication of cases.

The Minister also commended the President of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs for his leadership and ongoing efforts toward promoting harmony and development in the region.

In a bid to promote accountability and performance-based leadership, the Minister disclosed that a seven-member committee has been established to assess MMDCEs and determine whether they should be maintained as metropolitan, municipal or district assemblies.

He revealed that MMDCEs who perform poorly will have their resources reduced and redirected to the best-performing assemblies. He also announced that all MMDCEs have been resourced to construct CHPS compounds and will soon embark on the building of 24-hour model markets, expected to commence by December.

On sanitation, the Minister highlighted the President’s renewed collaboration with traditional authorities in the relaunch of the National Sanitation Campaign. He urged MMDCEs to engage chiefs and community leaders in sustaining environmental cleanliness and improving public health outcomes.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

A delegation from La Côte d’Ivoire has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, as part of a study tour to Ghana to learn best practices in the implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project. The visit marks a significant step in fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two countries under the SOCO initiative.

The SOCO project aims to strengthen social cohesion, enhance resilience, and promote development in vulnerable communities across the Gulf of Guinea’s northern regions. Ghana is one of the implementing countries, alongside La Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin. As part of the visit, the Ivorian delegation sought to understand Ghana’s strategies, structures, and lessons learned in executing the project to guide their own implementation.

Speaking during the meeting, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim underscored the importance of cooperation and peer learning among participating countries to achieve the project’s objectives. He emphasized that development must be carefully planned, monitored, and evaluated to ensure that interventions truly serve the needs of the people. “We must all be actively involved in the implementation of SOCO projects to ensure that they deliver sustainable outcomes that benefit the masses,” he stated.

The minister highlighted Ghana’s commitment to transparency, community participation, and accountability in managing SOCO interventions. He noted that these principles have been central to the project’s success in Ghana’s northern regions, where local authorities, traditional leaders, and community members play active roles in decision-making and project execution.

The Ivorian delegation expressed appreciation for Ghana’s openness in sharing experiences and best practices. They noted that La Côte d’Ivoire stands ready to collaborate closely with Ghana to ensure the successful implementation of SOCO projects in both countries. According to the delegation, such cooperation would enhance cross-border harmony and contribute to sustainable development and stability within the subregion.

In Ghana, the SOCO project is being implemented in six regions in the northern part of the country  including Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, Savannah, and Oti Regions. The initiative focuses on improving livelihoods, enhancing social infrastructure, and promoting peace and resilience in communities affected by fragility, conflict, and climate challenges.

The courtesy call concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepen collaboration and exchange technical expertise to maximize the benefits of the SOCO project. The partnership between Ghana and La Côte d’Ivoire, they agreed, represents a vital opportunity to build stronger, more resilient communities and advance the broader goal of regional integration and shared prosperity.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Sandra Owusu Asamoah

MLGCRA PR Unit

 The Norwegian government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Ghana’s sustainable urban development and local governance initiatives. This assurance was given by Norway’s Ambassador to Ghana, Dr. John Mikal Kvistad, during a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, in Accra.

Dr. Kvistad commended Ghana for its practical and proactive approach to implementing development cooperation programmes, describing the country as a trusted and forward-looking partner. He emphasized that Norway remains committed to strengthening its collaboration with Ghana, particularly through ongoing projects that promote sustainable cities, inclusive governance, and data-driven development.

He highlighted the Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme, jointly implemented with UN-Habitat and funded by the Government of Norway, which supports ten cities across the country to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ambassador noted that the initiative’s data-driven and impact-oriented approach is helping cities plan more effectively, improve service delivery, and build resilience in line with Ghana’s national development strategies.

Dr. Kvistad also acknowledged the long-standing partnership between Ghana and Norway. He added that the recently signed bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries provides a solid framework for even deeper collaboration in key sectors of mutual interest.

In his remarks, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the Government of Norway for its continuous partnership and technical support. He said Ghana’s Smart SDG Cities Initiative represents a bold national effort to transform cities and communities through smart urban planning, digital innovation, and inclusive development, in line with Agenda 2030 and Ghana’s long-term vision.

The Minister outlined progress made so far, including the onboarding of ten participating Assemblies, establishment of District Implementation Committees, capacity-building workshops for local government officials, and preparation of Voluntary Local Review Reports (VLRs). He said these activities are helping to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and improve the coordination of sustainable urban policies.

Hon. Ibrahim reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to building cities that are smart, equitable, and sustainable, emphasizing that with Norway’s continued partnership, Ghana could serve as a model for Smart SDG localization across Africa. He expressed optimism that the strengthened cooperation between the two countries would lead to even greater progress in advancing shared goals for climate resilience, innovation, and inclusive urban development.

SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

MLGCRA Public Relations Unit