The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on Ghanaians to embrace collective responsibility for environmental cleanliness, describing it as a foundation for healthy living, tourism growth, and sustainable development.

Addressing thousands at the grand durbar of the 2025 Aboakyir Festival in Winneba on Saturday, May 3, Hon. Ibrahim praised recent community-led sanitation efforts in the Efutu Municipality and encouraged residents to sustain them. He further urged active public participation in national campaigns such as the reintroduction of the National Sanitation Day and the upcoming Green Ghana Day.

“Let us take collective responsibility for our environment. A clean community is the foundation for healthy living, tourism, and economic opportunity,” the Minister stated.

Beyond sanitation, the Minister used the platform to reaffirm government’s broader development agenda, citing the critical link between environmental stewardship and inclusive growth. He underscored the importance of greening public spaces, promoting ecological balance, and integrating environmental consciousness into local governance.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Ibrahim also highlighted the essential role of traditional authorities, religious leaders, and community elders in safeguarding Ghana’s values and identity. He lauded the Efutu Traditional Area for preserving cultural heritage through the Aboakyir Festival and called for stronger intergenerational engagement to pass on ancestral knowledge and customs.

“Festivals like Aboakyir are not merely celebrations. They are living archives of who we are. We must preserve them not just in performance, but in principle,” he said.

The event, held under the theme “Championing Our Ancestral Legacy,” brought together a distinguished gathering of chiefs, Members of Parliament, the diplomatic corps, the Central Regional Minister Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, security agencies, and thousands of citizens from across the country.

In a direct appeal to government, the Omanhene of the Efutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, called for the rehabilitation of the Winneba Market, citing its deteriorated state and the hardships faced by traders. In response, Hon. Ibrahim pledged government’s commitment to expanding economic infrastructure under the 24-hour economy vision, assuring that modern market facilities would be provided to support local commerce.

The Aboakyir Festival, one of Ghana’s oldest and most revered traditional celebrations, commemorates the bravery and migration of the Efutu people. Its main highlight; the deer-hunting contest between two Asafo companies symbolizes unity, courage, and spiritual devotion, with the captured deer presented as a sacred offering to the gods.

This year’s celebration reaffirmed the enduring bond between culture and development and offered a renewed call for environmental responsibility, peace, and community progress.

Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

A stakeholder workshop to review the Draft Urban Baseline Report under the Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIP) was held on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Accra, marking a significant step toward data-informed urban development in Ghana.

The session, organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in partnership with the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), forms part of efforts to strengthen the revised National Urban Policy (2025–2034). It brought together representatives from government agencies, Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs), technical experts, and development partners to assess the findings of the draft report and provide feedback ahead of its finalisation.

Developed under Workstream 3A of the GCIP, the Urban Baseline Report consolidates critical data and performance indicators across 108 Assemblies and national institutions. It offers a snapshot of Ghana’s urban landscape, with indicators covering water and sanitation, waste management, urban roads, stormwater drainage, housing, and climate resilience. Of the 164 draft indicators identified, data was available for 88; highlighting both progress and gaps that need to be addressed for effective urban policy planning.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Amin Abdul-Rahaman, the Director for Local Governance and Decentralisation, Pln. Samuel Seth Passah, described the Report as essential to building more inclusive and resilient cities. “The Urban Baseline Report is not just a technical deliverable. It is the foundation for building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready cities,” he said.

Participants, including representatives from the Ghana Statistical Service, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, MESTI, the EU Delegation, GIZ, and others, reviewed the report’s methodology, indicators, and emerging insights. Technical support for the baseline was provided by PSS Urbania Consult.

The GCIP, supported by the UK FCDO, seeks to enhance sustainable urbanisation in Ghana by supporting data generation, institutional strengthening, and monitoring frameworks aligned to national priorities. The Urban Baseline Report will inform a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework and the design of an Urban Observatory to track urban development outcomes over time.

With validation inputs now gathered, the finalisation of the report and next steps, including institutional capacity assessment and MEL system development are expected to strengthen Ghana’s ability to implement its urban policy and deliver targeted interventions across cities and municipalities.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann/ Sandra Owusu Asamoah/ Melody Hini-Amoako (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

A joint mission organised by the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) was dispatched to Ghana to prioritise and advance high-impact infrastructure projects in critical sectors such as energy, water, and transportation.

The mission sought to engage in discussions regarding the outstanding issues related to both ongoing and emerging projects, programmes, and initiatives. The primary objective of the EU and EIB mission was to support the Government of Ghana in refining and prioritizing its infrastructure investment portfolio.

This strategic approach is intended to ensure that EU and EIB funds are allocated efficiently to projects that offer optimal financial and developmental outcomes. Under the Global Gateway initiative, the EU and EIB are integrating EU grants and sovereign guarantees with EIB concessional loans to create highly advantageous financing packages.

 These financial structures are designed to align with International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements while enabling the release of additional grants for each infrastructure project supported under this initiative.

The mission team informed the Ministry about a dedicated regional envelope to complement the Government of Ghana's funding allocations for various projects. The team acknowledged that Ghana's enduring partnership with the EU and EIB has already yielded significant results in areas such as decentralisation, local governance, energy, sanitation, and waste management.

The ongoing EU-Ghana Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Cities Programme, established under the Joint Programming framework (2021–2027), continues to provide both financial and technical support aimed at enhancing infrastructure in urban centres. This aligns seamlessly with the government's broader vision of fostering smart and sustainable cities.

As part of these continued efforts, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) is overseeing the African Sustainable Cities Initiative (ASCI). Funded by the EIB, this initiative focuses on strengthening urban resilience and enhancing the financial sustainability of selected cities across Ghana, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, and Uganda.

In Ghana, the initiative identifies Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale, and Techiman Metropolitan Assemblies as beneficiaries, selected for their potential for economic growth and pressing infrastructure needs.

The ASCI aims to support these metropolitan areas in identifying and implementing investment-ready, high-impact infrastructure projects that align with Ghana’s national priorities and international frameworks, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the New Urban Agenda.

Moreover, the ASCI will facilitate a feasibility study for the development of the Tamale, Damongo, and Yendi Water Projects, which aim to address persistent water supply challenges in the northern regions of Ghana. Additionally, the initiative will assist the Ministry in finalising the feasibility study for the construction of three Feacal Sludge Treatment Plants in Yendi, Bolgatanga, and Wa.

These collaborative efforts are anticipated to maximise the impact of available resources while reinforcing Ghana’s strategic partnership with the EU and EIB. The Ministry is committed to ensuring that these initiatives deliver transformative urban infrastructure, thereby improving the quality of life across the nation.

Source: Matilda Tettey/Stephanie Edem Klutsey

(Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)