In a collaborative move towards achieving a cleaner, healthier Ghana, the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has assured the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) of its unwavering commitment to support the upcoming National Sanitation Day scheduled for April 5, 2025.

During a courtesy call on the Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, the leadership of ESPA expressed their readiness to work closely with the Ministry to ensure the nationwide sanitation initiative becomes a sustained and impactful tradition. The engagement highlighted the critical role of private sector actors in complementing government’s efforts to promote environmental cleanliness and public health.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, visibly pleased with the Association’s show of commitment, described the meeting as a timely intervention. “Your readiness to support the National Sanitation Day speaks volumes about the potential of strong public-private partnerships. We believe this collaboration can help reignite civic consciousness and collective responsibility around sanitation,” he remarked.

The discussions explored strategic ways ESPA can leverage its nationwide operational network to mobilize resources, personnel, and logistics towards the success of the initiative. With decades of hands-on experience in waste management, ESPA’s technical expertise and reach place it in a unique position to drive efficiency in the execution of sanitation campaigns.

The Association also used the occasion to propose broader frameworks that would enhance the sanitation sector’s overall efficiency, including policy recommendations aimed at improving the operating environment for service providers. However, rather than focusing on sectoral challenges, the emphasis remained on how government and private players can work together to improve sanitation infrastructure, create jobs, and elevate public health outcomes across the country.

In particular, ESPA called on government to consider incentivizing investment in waste management logistics and technology by classifying sanitation vehicles as special-purpose equipment, thus aligning with provisions in the Harmonized System and Customs Tariff Schedules. They noted that granting tax waivers and reviewing service tariffs could make sanitation services more sustainable and attractive to investors.

Drawing inspiration from President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed social contract particularly his pledge to review taxes on vehicles and equipment for industrial use, ESPA appealed for similar considerations for sanitation service vehicles. The Association believes that such interventions will further energize the sector and drive national development outcomes in sanitation and hygiene.

“Environmental sanitation is not just about clean streets. It’s about economic growth, health, tourism, and the dignity of our people,” the Association emphasized.

The Ministry and ESPA both agreed on the need to sustain public engagement and education on sanitation through strategic communication, community participation, and consistent enforcement of sanitation by-laws. As the nation prepares for the upcoming National Sanitation Day, the partnership between government and ESPA signals a renewed sense of shared purpose.

Hon. Ibrahim reiterated the Ministry’s openness to continuous engagement with ESPA and other stakeholders. “This is how we win, when we all take responsibility. The National Sanitation Day must be more than an event; it should become a movement that every Ghanaian proudly owns,” he said.

Source: Matilda Tettey /Darling Maame Efua Cann

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

Government officials and development partners have held a two-day conference in Tamale to strengthen collaboration and explore better ways of working together to address development challenges in Northern Ghana.

The conference, dubbed the “Northern Ghana Deep Dive,” took place from March 26 to 27, 2025, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Guest House Conference Hall, with participation from key national and international stakeholders. The event was supported by the UK Government.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs was represented by the Director in charge of General Administration, Mr. Dela Kermevor, who joined discussions focused on improving coordination and impact of development efforts in the North.

The five northernmost regions, along with the Oti Region, remain the poorest in the country, according to the 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Report. The conference aimed to tackle these disparities by aligning the priorities of the incoming Government with those of development partners.

Discussions revolved around three main areas: understanding the new government’s development plans for Northern Ghana, identifying shared goals, and agreeing on effective ways of working together. The forum focused on how to collaborate, rather than what to fund, paving the way for a more strategic and unified approach to development.

By hosting the event in Tamale, organizers ensured the inclusion of regional policy makers and local government representatives whose perspectives are crucial to achieving lasting progress.

The Deep Dive is expected to shape future engagements and reinforce the message that development in Ghana is led by the Government, with international partners playing a supporting role where most effective.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, addressed the Decentralisation Sector Working Group (DSWG) meeting. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministers for Justice and Attorney General, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and development partners, to discuss the Government's decentralisation agenda.

In his speech, Hon. Ibrahim reiterated the Government’s commitment to decentralisation, emphasizing the need for a non-partisan approach to local governance. He stressed that the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should be done on a non-partisan basis, reflecting the Government's focus on deepening democracy at the local level.

"The Government’s Reset Agenda prioritises decentralisation. The overwhelming support we received in the 2024 elections clearly shows that Ghanaians are ready for this change," Hon. Ibrahim said.

The Minister also addressed the constitutional amendments proposed by the previous Government, including changes to Article 55(3) to allow political party participation in local elections and to Article 243(1), which grants the President the power to appoint MMDCEs. Hon. Ibrahim expressed the Government’s belief that such changes are necessary to strengthen local governance, pointing out that the current system is seen as undemocratic.

"We want to ensure that the local government system reflects the true will of the people, free from political party influence," he stated.

Looking ahead, Hon. Ibrahim outlined several key priorities for the Ministry, including increasing the share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) from 5% to 7.5% of national revenue, finalising the Local Government Borrowing Act, and launching initiatives such as the “Clean Up Ghana” project.

Other priorities highlighted by the Minister include finalising the National Decentralisation Policy (2025-2029), the National Rural Development Policy (2025-2034), and the National Urban Policy (2025-2034). Hon. Ibrahim also stressed the importance of capacity building for traditional authorities and religious leaders, as well as strengthening sub-district structures.

The Minister concluded by calling for continued collaboration with development partners to ensure the success of these reforms, stating, “Together, we can reflect, reset, and strengthen the decentralisation agenda for the benefit of all Ghanaians.”

The meeting marked a key step in Ghana's ongoing decentralisation efforts, with all parties expressing their commitment to advancing reforms that improve local governance across the country.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)