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

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), has reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the United Kingdom to promote sustainable urban development and climate resilience across Ghana’s cities.

He gave the assurance when the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Christian Rogg, paid a courtesy call on the Ministry on Friday, 7th November 2025to formally introduce himself to the Minister while familiarizing himself with the policies and programmes of the ministry and possible collaborations the two countries could have.

Welcoming the High Commissioner and his team, Hon. Ibrahim commended the United Kingdom for its longstanding support through the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), particularly under the Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIEP). He emphasized that this partnership continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing urban resilience, unlocking climate financing, and promoting sustainable infrastructure in Ghana.

According to him, the Ministry values the United Kingdom’s continuous partnership, which has aided in laying a strong foundation for sustainable city development through robust data, planning, and performance tracking tools.

He highlighted key achievements under the GCIEP, including the completion of a comprehensive Urban Baseline Assessment Report, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework to track urban policy outcomes, and a Capacity Needs Assessment Report to guide institutional strengthening.

The Minister further revealed that the collaboration has also supported climate risk mapping, mobilization of climate finance, and the review of faecal sludge treatment feasibility studies in Wa, Bolgatanga, Yendi, Techiman, and Sunyani with the hope of gaining additional funding from the European Union, European Investment Bank, and Invest International for project completion.

In the same spirit of progress,  he said the GCIEP is also partnering with the Ministry to develop an integrated road and drainage feasibility study for the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, aimed at improving mobility, trade, and flood resilience in the twin cities.

On the way forward, Hon. Ibrahim extended an invitation to the British High Commission to join other development partners working with the Ministry in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Cities Strategy, launched earlier this year with World Bank support, stating that, the strategy focuses on tackling challenges of rapid urbanization, including mobility, housing, waste management, spatial planning, and governance.

In his submission, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Christian Rogg, expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness to continue its collaboration with Ghana in building resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable cities, acknowledging the Ministry’s leadership in driving innovative solutions to local governance and urban development, indicating that they have also worked with other development partners towards similar development in the Northern sectors.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA