Vice President commends Local Gov’t Minister for bringing governance closer to the people

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman has commended the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim for his exemplary leadership in the Mahama administration.

Commending the Minister, the Vice President said ”the leadership of Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim continues to play a central role in fulfilling the Government’s commitment to decentralization and bringing governance closer to the people”.

The Vice President made this comment during her official visit to the Ministry for briefings from the Minister.

The Vice President, disclosed this meeting with the Minister on her Facebook wall, highlighting the achievements made by the Ministry under the leadership of Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim.

Kindly read the full statement below;

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, under the leadership of Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, continues to play a central role in fulfilling the Government’s commitment to decentralization and bringing governance closer to the people. I visited the Ministry yesterday to engage with the leadership and staff, and to better appreciate the progress being made in responsive governance and effective service delivery across the country.

During the meeting, the Minister briefed me on several notable achievements since he assumed office. These include the successful orientation of MMDCEs, with clear guidelines issued on the effective use of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). He also highlighted the National Decentralization Dialogue, which has provided an important platform for stakeholders to shape the next phase of Ghana’s decentralization journey.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim further highlighted the Ministry’s dedication to enhancing collaboration with traditional authorities, noting a significant rise in engagement with chiefs and queen mothers. In that regard, the Ministry has taken a major step by increasing allowances for paramount chiefs and queen mothers by about 300%, reaffirming the vital role of traditional leadership in fostering unity, development, and local governance.

The Minister also announced the launch of National Sanitation Day work plans, as part of preparations to roll out a 24-hour sanitation programme aimed at improving public hygiene and sanitation nationwide. He indicated that there is a renewed sense of confidence and optimism among investors and development partners, as a result of the growing stability and direction under the current administration.

In my remarks, I acknowledged that the Ministry is truly at the heart of the Government, especially as we work to reset the decentralization agenda and strengthen institutions. I emphasized that social governance is essential for fostering peace, and that decentralization should be used as a tool to enhance the daily lives of Ghanaians.

I also expressed my appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts to ensure that public funds, especially DACF disbursements, are utilized for their rightful purposes and in ways that are accountable and beneficial to the public. This engagement, I noted, was an opportunity not only to encourage the Ministry but also to listen, support, and strengthen our resolve to deliver better outcomes for our communities. I concluded by reiterating that governance is a collective responsibility. Government does not work alone, and we must continue to treat every stakeholder, at every level, with the respect they deserve.