The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), on Friday, 11th July 2025, inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) and the Council of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) at a ceremony held in the Ministry’s Conference Room in Accra.

The inauguration brought together high-level dignitaries including the Deputy Minister, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP); Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman; Director of ILGS, Prof. Nicholas Awortwi; CEO of LUSPA, Dr. Kwadwo Yeboah; and former Council Chairperson, Emeritus Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, among others.

In his keynote address, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim congratulated the newly appointed Chairmen Dr. William Kofi Ahadzie for ILGS and Pln. Jonathan Azaaso for LUSPA—along with all board members for the confidence reposed in them by the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama.

Describing the appointments as a significant call to duty, the Minister emphasized the importance of both institutions in Ghana’s decentralisation and development architecture. He lauded ILGS for its strategic role in training public officials within Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and in shaping policy through research since its establishment.

“As government rolls out the Resetting Ghana Agenda, capacity building for MMDCEs, Assembly Members, and staff of MMDAs has become more critical than ever. The Ministry is actively pursuing efforts to upgrade ILGS into a specialised university focused on professional and higher education for local governance while maintaining its core training mandate,” the Minister stated.

Turning to LUSPA, Hon. Ibrahim noted the Authority’s crucial role in guiding sustainable land use and spatial planning across the country. He urged the new Board to ensure full implementation of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), especially at the local government level.

He announced the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the full operationalisation of District Spatial Planning Committees and their Technical Sub-Committees, as provided under Sections 37 to 39 of the Act. He also pledged to issue directives under Section 47 for all MMDAs to establish permanent, publicly accessible Physical Data Rooms to promote transparency in development control.

“The status quo must change. In the Resetting Ghana Agenda, we cannot continue doing the same things and expect different results. I urge you to be bold, innovative, and results-oriented in your leadership,” he charged the governing members.

Hon. Ibrahim also paid tribute to the outgoing Board and Council members for their meritorious service and expressed hope that the new leadership would build on the solid foundation laid by their predecessors.

The ceremony concluded with the formal declaration of the new Governing Board of LUSPA and the Governing Council of ILGS as duly inaugurated.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Stephanie Edem Klutsey

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

Stakeholders in Ghana’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper coordination and joint action during a stakeholder engagement meeting held on July 3^rd, 2025 at the Airport View Hotel in Accra.

Organized under the Government of Ghana–UNICEF WASH Programme, the high-level meeting brought together key representatives from government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and local government institutions to strengthen collaboration for more inclusive and sustainable sanitation delivery.

The meeting, convened by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), is the first of its kind following the recent transfer of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) from the now-defunct Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to the Ministry, through Executive Instrument (EI) 1 of 2025.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, stakeholders were urged to view the transition as a timely opportunity to improve sector alignment and bring WASH interventions closer to communities.

    “This transition should rather allow us to better align sanitation programming within decentralised service delivery structures and the traditional governance systems. It would eventually help bring our interventions closer to the people, grounded in local realities and responsive to on-the-ground needs,” the statement noted.

Participants were reminded of the Ministry’s continued commitment to national strategies, such as the Rural Sanitation Model and Strategy, aimed at improving rural access to safely managed sanitation services.

The Chief Director, through his speech, acknowledged the long-standing partnership with UNICEF and the significant progress made under the GoG–UNICEF WASH Programme. Key gains were cited in the areas of behaviour change communication, market-based sanitation, technology development, regulatory improvements, and financing models.

However, the Ministry also noted persistent challenges, especially in ensuring the sustainability of household toilets in rural areas. It emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the supply side of rural sanitation—addressing bottlenecks such as limited access to affordable materials, skilled labour, and resilient technologies.

Another pressing concern raised was the increasing threat posed by climate change to WASH infrastructure and public health.

    “Climate change is no longer a future concern; it is a present and escalating challenge. Toilets are being washed away, water sources are diminishing, and public health risks are intensifying,” the Ministry cautioned, calling for climate-proofed WASH systems and integrated adaptation strategies.

During the meeting, a draft WASH coordination framework was presented by the Ministry for stakeholder review. The framework outlines roles and responsibilities of thematic leads, focal persons, and collaborating institutions, and aims to strengthen coherence, accountability, and results delivery across the sector.

In closing, the Ministry challenged all stakeholders to move beyond silos and renew their commitment to a common goal.

    “Achieving open defecation-free status and ensuring safely managed sanitation services for all Ghanaians will require more than technical solutions. It demands strong partnerships, shared accountability, and an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion,” the Chief Director’s message stressed.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has called for deeper interfaith collaboration and sustained efforts to promote religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in Ghana. She made the call on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, at the TOSM Peaceful Coexistence Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa Fetteh.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Sowah acknowledged the Church of Pentecost for hosting the timely interfaith dialogue and commended the participation of leaders from diverse religious backgrounds.

“In a world increasingly fractured by conflict and religious division, our commitment to peaceful coexistence must remain an unwavering beacon of hope for our nation’s future,” the Minister stated in his speech.

The conference brought together stakeholders from the Christian and Muslim communities, as well as leaders from other religious faiths and civil society, to reflect on issues of national importance and promote unity across belief systems.

The Minister’s statement emphasized that both Christianity and Islam rooted in the Abrahamic tradition—share values of compassion, justice, and service to humanity. These shared values, he noted, have long bound Ghanaians together across communities and homes.

However, the Minister also cautioned that isolated cases of religious tension and abuse continue to threaten this harmony. He referenced findings from a recent national study which identified worrying trends such as religious intolerance, noise pollution, exploitation of the vulnerable, gender-based violence, child marriage, and other unethical practices conducted in the name of religion.

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at a goal,” the Minister stated, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Each of us must be committed to the peace agenda.”

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to develop a National Policy on Religion, which will help to regulate religious practices, promote responsible religious leadership, and protect the rights and dignity of all citizens regardless of faith.

Hon. Sowah also highlighted ongoing ecumenical and interfaith efforts both within Christian and Muslim communities to unify under common platforms to advance national dialogue and religious accountability.

The Minister’s speech concluded with a passionate appeal to all Ghanaians to embody the values of tolerance, empathy, and shared responsibility.

“Let us remain each other’s keepers. Let peace be our guide and unity our purpose. Together, we can build a Ghana where every citizen lives in dignity, guided by faith, bound by love, and united in purpose.”

The three-day conference, running from July 9 to 11, features prayer sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative strategies designed to shape a national agenda for religious coexistence and civic cohesion.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)