A cross-sector technical meeting has been convened in Accra to take stock of Ghana’s progress in delivering on its climate action commitments under the second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 2.0). These commitments reflect Ghana’s pledge, as part of the global Paris Agreement, to combat climate change through both emission reduction (mitigation) and improved resilience to climate impacts (adaptation).

Organised by the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), the session brought together key technical officers and representatives from various sectors, including waste management, water, health, infrastructure, and local governance. Their task was to evaluate what has been achieved since the country submitted its NDC 2.0 and to help shape the direction for the next round of climate actions.

Discussions centered on how well-planned interventions have been rolled out, particularly in vulnerable sectors. Special emphasis was placed on environmental health and sanitation areas directly linked to both the causes and effects of climate change. Stakeholders identified a need to ramp up community-level actions such as sustainable waste disposal, climate-informed planning, and public awareness campaigns that address health and environmental risks simultaneously.

The meeting also highlighted the broader co-benefits of climate action, including job creation, protection of public health, and building more resilient cities. Participants stressed that for progress to be sustained, strong collaboration between local and central government institutions is essential, especially in aligning policy priorities and implementing practical solutions at the grassroots level.

Equally, the importance of robust data systems, financing frameworks, and institutional coordination was underscored as critical enablers for tracking progress and scaling impact.

Findings from the session will feed into Ghana’s national climate reporting and support the development of its next NDC, helping to ensure transparency, policy coherence, and continued momentum toward a climate-smart future.

This technical review is part of Ghana’s ongoing commitment to global climate accountability and national development that leaves no one behind.

Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The La Traditional Council is set to resume full operations following a formal engagement with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, marking a new phase of administrative restoration and renewed commitment to traditional leadership within the La Traditional Area.

The decision to reinstate the Council comes after a delegation led by the Acting President, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV, called on the Ministry on Tuesday, 24th June 2025, to discuss critical issues affecting the Council’s operations. The meeting, held at the Ministry in Accra, provided a platform for dialogue on the path forward, following a suspension that had halted the Council’s functions for several months.

The suspension, which took effect in September 2024, followed institutional concerns that necessitated a pause in the Council’s operations. The Ministry, acting in consultation with the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, intervened in the interest of safeguarding traditional governance and ensuring that the right structures were in place to promote accountability, administrative order, and the public good. This period allowed for internal reflection, system strengthening, and engagement on how best to reposition the Council for effective service delivery.

Addressing the delegation, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), urged the Council’s leadership and registrars to work collaboratively and diligently to ensure that all necessary documentation and institutional processes required for reinstatement are completed without delay. He underscored the importance of responsible leadership, stating that the La Traditional Area is endowed with valuable resources that require effective and transparent stewardship for the benefit of present and future generations.

In her remarks, the Deputy Minister, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who received the delegation on behalf of the Minister, expressed optimism about the Council’s return to operational status. As the Deputy Minister responsible for the area, she reiterated her commitment to facilitating resolution of the Council’s longstanding concerns. She noted that some of the issues raised, including land administration, boundary disputes, and governance coordination were already being addressed, and assured the delegation that she would work closely with the Municipal Chief Executive of La Dadekotopon and the Minister to ensure a seamless transition.

For his part, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the opportunity to engage and highlighted the difficulties that had emerged due to the Council’s prolonged closure. According to him, several urgent matters particularly relating to land and community development had been left unattended, creating a vacuum in local governance and decision-making. He emphasized the readiness of the Council to embrace reforms and restore public confidence through accountable leadership and consensus-building.

The reopening of the Council marks a significant step toward the reestablishment of traditional authority and the revitalization of customary administration in the La Traditional Area. As stakeholders work to reconstitute operations, the focus remains on unity, transparency, and a forward-looking approach to governance that honours both tradition and the demands of contemporary local development.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Chantal Aidoo

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

The Orientation and Training Programme for newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) has officially closed with a powerful charge delivered by Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who represented the Vice President of the Republic, Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, at the ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo delivered a closing address that struck a firm and forward-looking tone, urging the new cohort of MMDCEs to view their appointments not as political rewards, but as solemn mandates for public service and local transformation.

“You have not been chosen for ceremony,” he said. “You have been called to translate national vision into visible local results.”

He congratulated the MMDCEs on behalf of the Vice President and the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, commending them for successfully going through the nomination and confirmation process. He emphasized that their roles are vital to the implementation of the government’s Reset Agenda, and to delivering on the bold policy commitments outlined in the 2024 People’s Manifesto: “Resetting Ghana ; Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity.”

According to Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, the orientation programme was deliberately structured to go beyond formalities, offering strategic insights into power, governance, influence, and impact. He highlighted that the Vice President considers this moment a key turning point, where theory must give way to ethical, practical, and community-rooted leadership.

Citing the national development priorities, he reiterated the call for MMDCEs to lead the charge in operationalising flagship government programmes such as the 24-Hour Economy, Clean Up Ghana Initiative, Adwumawura, National Apprenticeship Programme, and others, reminding them that these policies are not abstract ideas but tools to bring jobs, accountability, and prosperity to the grassroots.

He acknowledged the structural challenges MMDCEs will face: low internally generated funds (IGFs), weak sub-district structures, sanitation issues, financial infractions, and broader threats such as illegal mining and climate change. However, he stressed that these realities must be met with bold leadership, innovation, and a renewed sense of urgency.

“The challenges are real, but so too is our readiness,” he said. “From today, the celebrations must give way to the work.”

To support this effort, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, on behalf of the Vice President, announced that government has made historic financial commitments to local development, including an allocation of approximately GHS 25 million per district through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the highest in recent history. He added that new monthly allowances for Assembly Members have also been introduced under Section 16 of the Local Governance Act, aimed at reinforcing community representation and accountability.

“These are not mere handouts. They are statements of intent; deliberate steps to empower you to act,” he affirmed.

He also called on Regional Ministers to apply the provisions of Section 188 of the Local Governance Act to intensify monitoring and evaluation of MMDAs. He stressed that Regional Coordinating Councils must actively support and supervise the performance of district assemblies to ensure efficiency, transparency, and public value.

In alignment with the Vice President’s long-standing advocacy for education, equity, and institutional strengthening, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo announced that the Ministry of Local Government will, in collaboration with the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), roll out targeted capacity-building programmes for MMDCEs to enhance their governance and administrative capabilities on a continuous basis.

He also reminded MMDCEs of their obligation to champion inclusive development. In line with the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), he noted that gender-responsive planning is now a statutory and moral imperative. “Inclusivity is not a choice it is a duty,” he declared.

As he brought the programme to a close, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo expressed confidence, on behalf of the Vice President, that the training had sharpened the MMDCEs' understanding and equipped them to lead with courage, clarity, and competence.

“We look forward to seeing your leadership in action, stronger communities, cleaner environments, fairer systems, and a more prosperous Ghana, built from the ground up,” he said.

With these words, and on behalf of the Vice President of the Republic, he formally declared the 2025 Orientation and Training Programme for MMDCEs closed.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(MLGCRA PR UNIT)