The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) played an active and impactful role in the 2025 Civil Service Week celebration, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, teamwork, and inclusive governance.

Held under the national theme “Adopting to Automation, Artificial Intelligence and E-Governance: The Civil Service in Contemporary Ghana,” the celebration took place from 16th to 25th July 2025 in Accra and featured a series of activities aimed at enhancing professionalism and collaboration across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

As part of the week-long programme, MLGCRA participated in an exhibition fair from 21st to 24th July 2025 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Ministry’s stand featured a rich display of policy documents and initiatives, particularly those promoting gender equality, community development, and inclusive local governance. The platform served not only to showcase the Ministry’s interventions but also to educate the public and engage stakeholders on its diverse mandate.

A significant moment during the exhibition was the visit by the Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, and the Ministry’s Chief Director, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, alongside other high-ranking officials. Their presence signified high-level endorsement of the Ministry’s work and drew considerable attention to the stand, amplifying its visibility and engagement.

The Ministry’s exhibition was further strengthened by the active participation of its departments, agencies, and project teams, who were on hand throughout the event to interact with visitors and explain their respective roles and programmes. This demonstrated the Ministry’s strong internal coordination and its culture of cross-unit collaboration.

Adding a light-hearted yet spirited flair to the celebration, staff of MLGCRA joined hands with colleagues from the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice to participate in a cooking competition on Wednesday, 23rd July 2025. The team showcased their culinary creativity with the preparation of Aparansa, a traditional Ghanaian delicacy, earning admiration from attendees and reinforcing the values of teamwork and camaraderie.

The celebration concluded with a closing ceremony held on Thursday, 24th July 2025, bringing together public servants to reflect on the significance of civil service in Ghana’s development journey.

Through its vibrant participation, MLGCRA demonstrated not only its commitment to service excellence but also its belief in the power of collaboration, innovation, and people-centered development. The Ministry continues to lead by example in advancing public sector transformation and fostering a resilient and responsive governance system for all Ghanaians.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

(Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, Madam Patience Baffoe-Bonnie Esq, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to open up dialogue on areas of mutual collaboration that will enhance service delivery and ensure shared national progress.

In her remarks, Madam Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq) pointed out that the role of the Prison Service and that of local government are closely interlinked. She noted that the dividends of decentralisation especially in infrastructure, social amenities, and local development planning should extend to the country’s correctional facilities. These include the construction and maintenance of prisons, provision of staff accommodation, and the delivery of basic services such as CHPS compounds to ensure inmate welfare and staff well-being.

She stressed that the three arms of the Ministry Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs—collectively shape the society that prisons also serve. “We are not working in isolation. We are on the same journey. We are reforming lives, communities, and structures and that takes partnership,” she stated.

The Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, warmly welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the critical role of the Prison Service in national development. He provided candid insights on what was currently possible within the Ministry’s framework and what may require further engagement across sectors. He assured Madam Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.) of the Ministry’s openness to collaboration and advised that the Ghana Prison Service develop a formal composition or concept paper outlining specific proposals.

“This is how we begin through conversation and clarity. When that paper comes in, it will provide a basis for structured dialogue and policy direction. That way, we can push together for what is rightfully due the Ghana Prison Service and, ultimately, for a more just and humane society,” the Minister said.

The meeting ended with a mutual commitment to deepen inter-agency collaboration and pursue actions that will help translate policy into real and measurable benefits for the people.

Source : Darling Maame Efua Cann & Stephanie Edem Klutsey

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

 In fulfillment of part of the reset agenda on decentralisation, government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has released an amount of GHS 23,621,000, being payment of allowances for District Assemblies to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.

Being part of the frontline men and women that represent government at the local level, the President believes thatit is prudent to ensure the welfare of the members so they can deliver on the President’s mandate and use the resources allocated to the Assemblies for its specific goal.

At a press conference on Monday, 14th July, 2025 at the Ministry’s conference room, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, reiterated that government’s move is aimed at improving service delivery at the local level as the former status quo had impacted negatively on the performance of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

It is for this reason, he said, that President John Dramani Mahama has committed eighty percent (80%) of the District Assemblies Common Fund to MMDAs, adding that government allocated One Hundred Million Ghana Cedis (GHS 100,000,000) in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy aimed at paying all the nine thousand and eighty- five (9,085) Assembly Members across the two hundred and sixty - one districts.

Hon. Ibrahim mentioned that out of the GHS 100,000,000, the Ministry of Finance had released twenty - five million Ghana Cedis (GHS 25,000,000) as payment for the months of April and May. He stressed that each assembly member receiving one thousand three hundred Ghana cedis (GHS 1,300) as their monthly allowance, and thus with the current release, each assembly member was entitled to Two-Thousand, Six Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS 2,600.00).

He further noted that government will deepen its commitments to MMDAs as part of the resetting and decentralisation agenda to provide adequate resources and logistics at the local level to promote effective service delivery.

Source: Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA