Elate Crystal Hotel, Bolgatanga – 17 June 2025

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project Phase II (GPSNP2), has successfully concluded a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Bolgatanga. The training, held under the flagship Livelihood Empowerment and Productive Inclusion Programme (LEPIP), aimed to build the capacity of local actors to implement a skills development programme targeting out-of-school adolescent girls.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from Regional and Municipal Assemblies, including officers from the Departments of Social Welfare, Community Development, Education, Youth, and Enterprise. It marked a key milestone in the national rollout of LEPIP’s skills training component and underscored the Ministry’s commitment to addressing social and economic exclusion among Ghana’s most vulnerable youth.

LEPIP is a transformative government initiative spearheaded by MLGCRA through GPSNP2, with technical and financial support from UNICEF. The programme targets out-of-school adolescent girls between the ages of 16 and 21, equipping them with life skills, vocational and entrepreneurship training, and start-up capital. It also offers complementary support in areas such as nutrition, mentorship, and innovation, with the goal of building socio-economic resilience and breaking the cycle of poverty for participants.

Currently, the programme is being piloted in the Kassena-Nankana and East Mamprusi Municipal Assemblies. Based on early results and stakeholder engagement, MLGCRA plans to scale up the initiative to ten additional Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). This planned expansion aligns closely with national social protection frameworks, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), the Complementary Livelihood and Asset Support Scheme (CLASS), and the Integrated Social Services (ISS) Delivery Framework coordinated by MLGCRA.

Over the course of the training, participants received in-depth instruction in areas such as life skills development, vocational pathways, small business management, and mentorship. The training also introduced participants to digital monitoring tools that will be used to track attendance, implementation progress, and programme outcomes in real time—ensuring a data-driven and accountable approach to delivery.

Speaking at the opening session, the Ministry’s representative highlighted the significance of the programme in restoring dignity and creating opportunity for young girls often excluded from formal development efforts. “LEPIP represents a shared vision of promoting dignity, opportunity, and hope for young people who have often been left behind,” the representative stated.

Ms. Christiana Gbedemah, Social Protection Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, commended the Ministry for its leadership and its prioritization of inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting marginalized adolescent girls and expressed confidence in LEPIP’s potential to create lasting change in the lives of its beneficiaries.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is confident that the workshop has equipped regional and municipal stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to implement LEPIP effectively. It is expected that the training will lead to more coordinated and impactful service delivery at the community level, helping to realize the national vision of a more inclusive and equitable Ghana—where every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

The Paramount Queenmother of the Mampong Traditional Area, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, has led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to express the profound appreciation of the Mampong Traditional Council for the Ministry’s support during the one-week observation and final funeral rites of the late Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and former Member of the Council of State.

The visit, which took place at the Ministry on Tuesday, 24^th June, 2025, was a symbolic gesture of gratitude to the Minister and his team for standing in solidarity with the people of Mampong during their period of mourning. Nana Agyakoma Difie II, speaking on behalf of the delegation, emphasized that the presence and contributions of the Ministry brought honour and comfort to the bereaved traditional area.

She recalled that prior to the funeral rites, she had officially called on the Minister to inform him of the passing of the late Daasebre Osei Bonsu II. In response, the Minister had assured the delegation of the Ministry’s full support, in recognition of the late Chief’s service to national development and the chieftaincy institution.

“True to his word, the Honourable Minister extended immense support to us, both in representation and in resources, which we do not take for granted,” the Mampong Hemaa stated.

On his part, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, reiterated the government’s respect for traditional authorities and its commitment to strengthening the institution of chieftaincy. He described the late Mamponghene as a statesman of high repute whose wisdom and leadership left a lasting imprint on Ghana’s governance and traditional landscape.

The meeting concluded with assurances of continued collaboration between the Ministry and the Mampong Traditional Area in advancing the role of traditional leadership in national development.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit- MLGCRA)

In a bold reaffirmation of Ghana's commitment to inclusive growth and decentralised governance, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Swiss Government, officially launched the Ghana Cooperation Programme (2025–2028) of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. 

The launch, attended by high-level dignitaries including His Royal Majesty Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, the Osu Mantse; Her Excellency Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; and Ms. Janine Walz, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy, marked a significant milestone in a 23-year development partnership between Ghana and Switzerland. 

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), highlighted the Programme’s central focus on deepening decentralisation, promoting sustainable urban mobility, enhancing environmental integrity, and driving inclusive economic growth. 

“This programme is more than a development framework it is a partnership for transformation,” the Minister stated. “It aligns perfectly with Ghana’s Revised National Urban Policy and the recently launched Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy, and it reaffirms our shared vision of building a resilient, inclusive and prosperous nation.” 

Over the years, SECO’s interventions in Ghana have supported institutional reform and improved local governance through landmark initiatives such as the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsive Factor Grant (DACF-RFG), which has delivered over 8,000 community infrastructure projects, and the Responsive, Effective, and Efficient Local Governance in Ghana (REELG) project, which trained over 7,900 Assembly Members and built leadership capacity across 40 MMDCEs. 

Equally notable is the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP), launched in 2016, which has significantly improved public transport planning and urban mobility within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. Building on this momentum, GUMAP Phase II is in preparation, backed by a proposed USD 6.9 million grant from SECO. The new phase will expand to include Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi, focusing on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. 

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim also underscored Switzerland’s critical role in promoting macroeconomic resilience, youth employment, and environmental stewardship. “The Ghana Cooperation Programme’s commitment to environmental integrity recognises the pivotal role of local governments in implementing climate-smart and green growth policies,” he noted. 

The Minister expressed Ghana’s deep appreciation to the Swiss Government and people for their consistent and meaningful support. “Your partnership is not only financial, it is a vote of confidence in our democratic and developmental journey,” he remarked. 

The Ghana Cooperation Programme (2025–2028) is poised to accelerate Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, strengthen institutional frameworks, empower local authorities, and deliver sustainable development outcomes at the grassroots level. 

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann 

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)