In a concerted effort to curb Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful traditional practices such as child marriage, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has initiated a strategic engagement with Traditional Council Registrars in the Northern sector of the country.

The engagement, under the theme “Strengthening the Capacity of Traditional Councils on Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices Including Child Marriage Using the National Framework for Engaging Traditional Authorities”, saw registrars from the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah, North East, and Bono East Regions coming together to share ideas, while receiving training on the issues.

In a speech read on behalf on the Chief Director of MLGCRA, Mr. Amin Abdul -Rahaman, by the Head of Religious Affairs Unit, Mr. Richard Obeng Boafo, it came to light that  data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census indicated that child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent in several northern districts, with over 120,000 children aged 12 to 17 years reported to be married or cohabiting.

 This social issue, he noted, can be classified as a form of sexual and gender-based violence, as it violates fundamental human rights and robs young girls of education, health, and economic opportunities. He observed that it was for this reason that the Ministry has been partnering with the UNFPA to organise a series of capacity building workshop to aid the frontline officers handle such issues that come before the chiefs and the Council smoothly.

The Chief Director reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to supporting traditional and religious institutions in their roles as custodians of cultural values and agents of community transformation. He, was of the view that, traditional and religious leaders are vital allies in addressing GBV and harmful practices noting that their influence at the grassroots is indispensable.

In 2024, under a UNFPA-supported work plan, 120 Traditional Council Registrars were trained using a specialised toolkit, and engagements were held with the National House of Chiefs and over 60 religious leaders. These efforts strengthened seven communities to make declarations to end child marriage, with the Paramount Chiefs championing it.

Mr. Amin-Rahman underscored the critical role of the media, community actors, and religious institutions in sustaining the momentum Stating that there must be a cautious effort to reduce these harmful practices to save lives.

Speaking on behalf of the UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Winfred Ochan, a Regional Representative at UNFPA , Jude Demosie said the UNFPA is very keen on safeguarding the lives of people by identifying and supporting the vulnerable in societies. He said it was for this main goal that they would want to reduce Gender-Based Violence and it's harmful practices in African countries with Ghana being one of them.

Regional Gender Officers Charity Batuure and Bushira Alhassan emphasized the importance of traditional authorities in reversing these harmful trends. They noted that it is very essential to communicate effectively where necessary and also report any suspicious issues to their regional offices. They were of the view that child marriages were destroying the dreams of the young girls today and needed to be reduced to its barest minimum.

The GBV and its harmful practices training, held on Thursday, 17th July, 2025 in Tamale, aims to deepen understanding of GBV among council registrars, address unconscious bias, and operationalize the national framework for engaging traditional leaders on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as well as family planning.

Source : Chantal Aidoo

Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA

The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, (MLGCRA) Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to lead decisive local action in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), at the Sustainable Mining Ecosystem Conference and Exhibition (ECOSUM CONFEX 2025), Hon. Sowah described the Assemblies as the first line of defence against environmental destruction and called on them to take bold steps to protect Ghana’s rivers, forests, and farmlands.

The two-day conference, held from 29th to 30th July 2025 at the National Theatre in Accra, was themed “Restoring the Blue Waters and Green Environment Initiative for a Sustainable Ecosystem – The Role of Multi-Stakeholders and Leadership”. It brought together key players from government, traditional leadership, civil society, and the mining sector to deliberate on the restoration of ecosystems severely affected by unregulated mining practices.

In her address, the Deputy Minister urged Assemblies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance into their core operations, particularly in permitting, inspections, and community monitoring. She further advised MMDAs to strictly enforce land use regulations to prevent mining near water bodies, sacred groves, and protected forests. Environmental taskforces, including the Blue Water Guards, she added, must be strengthened and well-resourced to clamp down on illegal mining hotspots.

Calling illegal mining a “socio-cultural and governance emergency,” the Deputy Minister warned of its far-reaching consequences; contaminated rivers, degraded ancestral lands, reduced agricultural productivity, and heightened insecurity. She called for fearless enforcement of anti-galamsey by-laws by MMDAs, while urging traditional authorities to withhold land from unlicensed miners and promote communal vigilance.

To address the root causes of galamsey, Hon. Sowah announced that the Ministry is collaborating with sector ministries and private partners to introduce youth-focused training programmes in agribusiness, green construction, and eco-tourism. The initiative aims to offer sustainable livelihoods to young people in mining areas and discourage their involvement in illegal mining. She noted that traditional and faith-based institutions are also being engaged to provide moral guidance and mentorship.

The Deputy Minister underscored the crucial role of traditional and religious leaders, describing them as “pillars of moral authority and cultural custodians.” She encouraged them to champion ESG principles, safeguard sacred natural sites, and facilitate productive dialogue between Assemblies and communities.

She concluded by reminding stakeholders that the path to a sustainable mining ecosystem begins at the community level. “The restoration of the blue waters and green environment will not be achieved solely through policies crafted at the center, but by the decisions taken in our communities,” she said. Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah expressed confidence that the ECOSUM CONFEX 2025 will spark the partnerships and momentum needed to secure a greener and more resilient Ghana for future generations.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has commenced a comprehensive review of the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy Matrix as part of efforts to reposition decentralisation as a key driver of national development. The review process, which is currently underway, seeks to assess gaps in the existing framework and introduce reforms that will enhance democratic governance, improve service delivery, and ensure sustainable development at the local level.

At the center of the ongoing review is the Ministry’s ambition to deepen local democratic participation by transitioning to a system where Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are elected on a non-partisan basis. This is expected to promote accountability, strengthen citizen engagement, and ensure that local leaders genuinely reflect the will of the people. Additionally, the Ministry is working to improve merit-based and transparent appointments to District Assemblies as part of a broader effort to strengthen the foundations of local governance.

The review also focuses on streamlining the creation of new districts and enforcing effective boundary management mechanisms to ensure territorial coherence and functional integration of local governments. To support this, the Ministry is proposing a harmonised legal framework that aligns decentralisation laws with sectoral mandates, eliminating overlaps, clarifying institutional roles, and enhancing coordination across agencies for more effective outcomes.

As part of efforts to foster inclusivity and effectiveness, the Ministry is exploring reforms to promote greater gender representation in local assemblies and ensure the timely election of Presiding Members to strengthen Assembly leadership. Further considerations include improving the integration of traditional authorities into local governance structures and building the capacity of Assembly members, decentralised departments, and Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs).

The review also seeks to address institutional and operational inefficiencies by fully operationalising decentralised departments, raising professional standards among local government staff, and leveraging technology to improve planning and service delivery. Emphasis is being placed on strengthening decentralised planning systems, establishing coordinated governance platforms, and adopting a structured approach to human resource and logistics management.

On the financial front, the review considers measures to improve resource allocation to local governments, reduce irregularities in fiscal transfers, and enhance internally generated fund (IGF) systems through digital tools. It also promotes deeper implementation of the Composite Budget and enhanced financial management practices, while creating a conducive environment for public and private sector investment in local development.

Beyond these areas, the policy review encompasses a wide range of other reforms aimed at enhancing the performance, accountability, and responsiveness of the decentralisation system. These include improvements in planning, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, expanded mechanisms for citizen participation, and strengthened intersectoral coordination at all levels. The Ministry remains committed to engaging stakeholders throughout the process to ensure that the revised policy aligns with national priorities and effectively supports development at the local level.

Through these wide-ranging reforms, the Ministry seeks not only to revitalise the decentralisation process but also to position local governments as key catalysts for equitable and sustainable national development.