Michael Nkansah

The 2022 Ghana Urban Forum (2022GUF) slated for Monday, 31st October to Tuesday, 1st November 2022 has been organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) in Accra.

The Ghana Urban Forum (GUF), a multi-stakeholder platform, brought together state and non-state actors who discussed issues affecting urban settlements and offered solutions that support sustainable urban development in the country.

The Ministry, over the years, has leveraged the GUF to solicit stakeholder inputs into relevant policies and strategic documents such as the National Urban Policy Framework and Action Plan (2012), as well as country processes leading to the adoption of the new Urban Agenda in 2016.

This year’s forum was organised on the theme: “Rapid urban growth in Ghana: promoting effective urban planning for liveable and sustainable cities and towns”.

The 2022 GUF looked at discourse on the definition of urban areas, sustainable urban development, and private sector participation in urban service delivery;

It solicited inputs into the update of the National Urban Policy (2012) and collaborated with key institutions on the New Urban Agenda and SDGs.

The forum was preceded by a breakfast meeting for editors and senior journalists to inform them and give them an overview of steps undertaken by the government in the urban space and what was being done to lift the current status of Ghana’s urban areas.

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia has launched the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project, in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region on Friday, 25th November 2022.

The Project is a US$450 Million Credit Facility secured from the International Development Association (IDA) and World Bank to be implemented in five (5) years, from 2022 to 2027 in Ghana, Cote d’Ívoire, Togo, and Benin.

Launching the Project, Dr. Bawumia stated that the SOCO Project as conceptualised, takes cognizance of regional perspectives and the impact of the issues common to the four countries in the Sahel Region. This is said will enable county-led actions that will respond to local needs.

The Vice President added that the Project also leverages experience sharing on prevention of the spill-over effect from the Sahe Reggion, fragilities, and climate-related risks in the four participating Gulf of Guinea countries as well as conflict prevention for the affected countries.

Also speaking at the launch, the sector Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Botwe assured Ghanaians that his Ministry will leave no stone unturned to ensure that proper supervision and monitoring of the project are carried out to succeed in its implementation.

The SOCO Project is aimed at addressing challenges of possible spillover conflicts and extremism in the Sahel Region to reduce vulnerability due to exposure to the impacts of climate change, strengthen local institutions, improve economic opportunities and build public trust.

It also focuses on border communities in the beneficiary countries where the citizenry, especially women and youth are exposed and susceptible to threats of terrorism from the Sahel Region. Thus, focusing on dealing with issues relating to Fragility, Conflicts, and Violence (FCV).

The Government of Ghana received US$150 out of the US$450 Million to work in 48 Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) within six (6) regions in Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, Northern, North East, and Oti.

In all, 15 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Upper East Region, 11 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Upper West Region, eight Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in Northern Region, six Municipal and District Assemblies in North East four Municipal and District Assemblies in the Savannah Region and four Municipal and District Assemblies in the Oti Region are slated to benefit from the Project.

The Chairman of the occasion, Nangonaab Na-Pariyong Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II said since the sensitisation of the Project by the Ministry, beneficiary Municipal and District Assemblies have been eager for the roll-out of the intervention in their various jurisdictions, stating that plans and budgets have been put in place awaiting the disbursement, and assured the Ministry that beneficiary districts are fully aware of the rules and regulations governing the Project implementation.

The Chairman expressed gratitude to the Ministry and the World Bank for he described as a novel project which he said undoubtedly will address the challenges of poverty which is endemic in the north, and reposition the local economies, making them more resilient and sustainable.

In his address, the Country Director of the World Bank Piere Frank Laporte said the Gulf of Guinea project specifically targets vulnerable communities in the north, to proactively prevent the spread of conflict from the Sahel, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and strengthen local institutions.

The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) in collaboration with implementing Regional Coordinating Councils and District Assemblies will launch the Resilience in Northern Ghana II (RING II) at Ghana’s Upper West Regional District of Nadowli on Friday, November 30, 2022.

The RING II program aims to sustain improvements in the delivery of services that promote the nutrition and resilience of vulnerable populations in northern Ghana. This forms part of the Government to Government and systems strengthening activities.

The happenings of the launch will bring together stakeholders from both national, sub national and the local level to exhibit, share experience, achievements as well as have testimonials by RING I beneficiaries.

Speakers for the occasion include Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Daniel Botwe (MP), Deputy Mission Director, USAID Ghana, Grace Lang and Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Hafiz Bin Salih.

RING II will target nutritional vulnerable populations with high prevalence of stunting, anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, particularly: children under five, with a special focus on the first thousand days of life; pregnant and lactating women; and adolescent girls.

To achieve the program goal, RING II will work toward the Local government’s plan, finance and deliver local services that promote nutrition and household resilience. Citizens participate in mechanisms to improve the delivery of social sector services; National and sub-national levels plan and deliver effective project governance and grant administration.

The MLGDRD, Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) will receive targeted financial and technical assistance to implement evidence-based interventions and strengthen their institutional capacity to help in achieving the objectives of the program.

The program which is financed by the USAID through a Development Grant Agreement with Government of Ghana (GOG) will be implemented over a period of five years (2021-2026) and will be led by the MLGDRD in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) of the participating District Assemblies.

This grant will be implemented through a progressive approach, including application of “nutrition-resilient” specific indicators through which the MMDAs are incentivized to improve the delivery of social services that are essential to improve household nutrition and resilience, including health, nutrition, agriculture extension, water and sanitation, education and social protection. The grant will strengthen the enabling environment for local planning, financing and delivery of quality of services through policy reforms, technical assistance and other interventions.

The implementation will be evidence-based interventions with activities to be geographically focused in 17 Districts in four Regions; however, the relative emphasis placed on each intervention and specific delivery mechanisms chosen may differ amongst districts to accommodate divergent epidemiological, demographic, programmatic context and situational realities.

The beneficial regions and their districts to benefit from the initiative are: Upper West Region (Daffiama Bussie-Issa, Nadowli-Kaleo, Sissala East, Sissala West, Wa West); Upper East Region (Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, Garu Tempane); North East Region (East Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moagduri) and Northern Region (Yendi, Gushegu, Mion,Nanton, Karaga, Sagnarigu).

The GOG and USAID anticipate seeing sustained delivery of services that lead to improved nutrition, food security and well-being of target populations, as measured by indicators such as increased minimum acceptable diet of children 6-23 months; and women’s dietary diversity score.