By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Sept. 03, GNA – Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Outgoing Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has outlined major achievements and outstanding challenges at the Ministry as he formally handed over to his successor, Mr Mahama Ayariga.
He said the Ministry had made significant progress in strengthening local governance, supporting traditional authorities, advancing sanitation, and initiating major infrastructure projects during his tenure.
The Outgoing Minister said the Ministry facilitated the election of the Council of State within 20 days of assuming office on January 25, 2025, describing it as the fastest organisation of the Council in Ghana’s history.
He said the Ministry also facilitated the appointment of all 2,813 government appointees and the nomination and confirmation of all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), helping the government to quickly constitute its administrative machinery.
On local governance, Mr Ibrahim said the government had fulfilled its commitment to pay allowances to Assembly Members, with about GH¢107 million spent to pay the 9,090 Assembly Members for nine months in 2025, and that an additional GH¢106 million had been released in 2026 to ensure the monthly payment of GH¢1,300 to Assembly Members through to December.
Mr Ibrahim also highlighted improvements in conditions of service for traditional leaders, including a 300 per cent increase in allowances for Paramount Chiefs and Queen Mothers, stating that queen mothers’ allowances had increased from GH¢800 to GH¢2,400, while allowances for members of judicial committees of traditional councils were also increased by 67 per cent.
However, he identified the backlog of chieftaincy cases and the lack of adequate legal personnel at regional houses of chiefs, as major challenges requiring urgent attention.
Mr Ibrahim appealed to Mr Ayariga, who is a lawyer, to pursue improved conditions of service for legal officers supporting judicial committees across the country’s 16 regions, to ensure the speedy adjudication of chieftaincy disputes.
He also called for efforts to secure financial clearance for the recruitment of registrars, secretaries and other staff for traditional councils, noting that about 100 traditional councils established in 2024 were yet to be adequately staffed.
On local development financing, Mr Ibrahim said GH¢6.2 billion from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was disbursed in 2025, while GH¢4.4 billion had been released for the first and second quarters of 2026.
He urged his successor to sustain the government’s efforts to ensure that 80 per cent of the DACF reached the grassroots.
Mr Ibrahim further highlighted the Ministry’s 24-hour economy market initiative, describing it as one of the most significant projects initiated under his tenure.
He said despite budgetary constraints, the Ministry developed standardised designs for markets across the country, incorporating facilities such as fire stations, police posts, health infrastructure, and improved security systems.
“The projects were decentralised across all 16 regions but designed to ensure uniformity and standardisation,” he added.
He expressed confidence that if the momentum was maintained, the first batch of the projects could be commissioned by December 2027.
Mr Ibrahim said the Ministry had also completed the assessment of all 261 MMDAs after no assessment was conducted between 2022 and 2024.
He said 118 assemblies passed the assessment while 143 failed, adding that GH¢738 million had subsequently been made available for disbursement to support qualifying assemblies and the Ministry.
On sanitation, the outgoing Minister stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, adding that the June 29, 2026, floods exposed the country’s inadequate sanitation and waste management infrastructure.
He commended the Jospong Group of Companies for releasing about 40 trucks to support the evacuation of waste following the disaster, urging the government to support private waste management companies to increase their operational capacities and prevent future sanitation emergencies.
He also addressed concerns about the National Cathedral forensic audit, stating that the report was still being worked on by the Attorney-General and Auditor-General, and dismissed claims that the Ministry had withheld the report, explaining that the forensic audit process had not yet been completed.
Mr Ibrahim pledged his support to Mr Ayariga and expressed confidence that his successor would build on the foundations laid during his tenure.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo