Ghana Minute.
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 8 October 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Ministry of Local Government

Also known as: Ministry of Local Government and Transport

Government ministry responsible for enforcing building safety, managing district assemblies, and coordinating local development programs and markets.

2026-05-182026-10-08

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. Joy Online

    … itor-General and his officers to report their findings from a special audit to Parliament. “So where the evidence, the pieces of material evidence that he’s pieced together, points irresistibly to the fact that they actually conducted the audit of the Ministry of Local Government …

    Arrests should happen before daybreak – Dafeamekpor demands action over audit claims
  3. Joy Online

    … The minister made the remarks on Wednesday, September 9, when members of the Ecumenical Council paid a working visit to the Ministry of Local Government, describing the loss of public confidence as one of the major challenges confronting the country. …

    Mismanagement of public affairs fading trust in government, religious leaders—Ayariga
  4. The Ghanaian Times

    … A Plus further disclosed that he wrote to the Ministry of Local Government to seek clarification on where the Gomoa Central District begins and ends. …

    A Plus details steps taken to prevent Gomoa land dispute violence
  5. Joy Online

    … A Plus said he also wrote to the Ministry of Local Government to seek clarification on the boundaries of the Gomoa Central District and received a response. …

    Interior Ministry investigated Gomoa-Effutu boundary concerns before clashes – A Plus
  6. August 2026
  7. Joy Online

    … We don’t know anything about that.” He went further, revealing his outfit has been named in lawsuits over market demolitions and is now moving to get the secretariat’s name off those suits, insisting the project belongs to the Ministry of Local Government and is funded through th …

    24-hour market: Who is actually in charge?
  8. Joy Online

    … Three of the five would then be shortlisted, including at least one woman, after vetting by a committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Local Government, the Public Services Commission and the Local Government Service. …

    IDEG opposes presidential nomination of DCE candidates for election in constitutional review position paper
  9. Joy Online

    … Strengthening institutions must be a norm for all local projects executed by the Ministry of Local Government, the National Development Planning Commission, the Local Government Service, donors, and civil society. …

    Ghana’s NGOs should strengthen local government, not replace it
  10. Joy Online

    … Assibey further assured that the government, through the Ministry of Local Government, has allocated the necessary funds for the project and is ready to release them to the contractor to begin construction. …

    Kwadaso MCE cuts sod for construction of 24-Hour Economy Market project
  11. July 2026
  12. The Chronicle

    … According to him, the top-down approach does not support proper or holistic development and reaffirmed that PIAC is advocating stronger coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government to improve planning and oversight of petroleum-funded projects …

    PIAC advises Government to Involve MMDAs in Oil and Petroleum-Funded Projects
  13. Joy Online

    … Residents are therefore urging the government, the Ministry of Local Government and the relevant waste management authorities to take immediate steps to decommission the landfill and implement a long-term solution for waste disposal in the area. …

    Residents demand immediate closure of Kpone landfill over health and environmental concerns

Yesterday

  1. Mahama calls for stricter building regulation enforcement following collapses

    President Mahama has called for tougher enforcement of building regulations at the district assembly level in response to recent building collapses, urging authorities to ensure developers obtain permits and comply with stop-work orders, and tasking the Ministry of Local Government with ensuring accountability when buildings collapse.

    14 hours ago · Joy Online →

  2. Mahama orders sanctions for officials failing building safety enforcement

    President Mahama has directed the Minister of Local Government to ensure that officials responsible for enforcing building safety regulations are held accountable when structural failures occur. He expressed concern about buildings being constructed despite stop-work orders and called for stronger enforcement at the district assembly level.

    15 hours ago · Joy Online →

Wednesday 16 September

  1. MP flags gaps in Auditor-General's COVID spending audit

    South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has raised concerns about incomplete coverage in the Auditor-General's audit of COVID-19 expenditure approved by Parliament. He cited discrepancies including zero reported expenditure for Transport (GH¢299m approved) and Local Government (GH¢160m), and a shortfall in Education where GH¢316.1m was approved but only GH¢96.3m was audited.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Auditor-General must explain missing COVID spending reports, PAC vice chair says

    Parliament's Public Accounts Committee vice chair Davis Ansah Opoku has called on the Auditor-General to explain why COVID-19 expenditure by the Ministries of Local Government and Transport was not clearly captured in its audit report. An investigation found that the Local Government Ministry spent GH¢299 million on fumigation, while the Auditor-General's special audit reported GH¢96.3 million as total fumigation expenditure.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Auditor-General audit of COVID-19 spending omits Local Government Ministry fumigation

    Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni reports that the Auditor-General's COVID-19 expenditure audit omitted the Ministry of Local Government's fumigation spending despite auditing the ministry's expenditure. Awuni found the ministry spent GH¢299 million on market fumigation between April and November 2020, though the audit reported only GH¢96.3 million for fumigation overall.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Auditor-General's COVID-19 report omits GH¢299m fumigation spending

    Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni found that the Ministry of Local Government spent GH¢299 million on fumigation during COVID-19, but this amount was omitted from the Auditor-General's report which cited GH¢96 million for fumigation overall. The Audit Service confirmed it audited the ministry's expenditure but explained that omitting the figure from the report did not mean it had not been audited.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Audit Service audited GH¢299m fumigation spending but omitted it from report

    Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni says the Audit Service confirmed it audited GH¢299 million spent by the Ministry of Local Government on COVID-19 fumigation, though the expenditure was omitted from the Auditor-General's final COVID-19 spending report. The Audit Service told him the omission did not mean the spending had not been audited, raising questions about why the expenditure was not included when the Auditor-General's report listed total fumigation costs at GH¢96 million.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. Auditor-General's COVID-19 audit questioned over unreported spending

    An investigative report alleges that Ghana's Auditor-General omitted hundreds of millions of cedis in COVID-19 fumigation spending from its audit findings, including GH¢299 million spent by the Ministry of Local Government. The Majority Chief Whip called the discrepancy a potential major public finance scandal if the allegations are established.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  7. Auditor-General's COVID-19 audit questioned over omitted spending

    An investigation found that the Auditor-General's COVID-19 audit reported GH¢96 million in fumigation expenditure while government ministries spent hundreds of millions more on the exercise, with the Ministry of Local Government's GH¢299 million in fumigation contracts not included in the reported figure. The Ghana Audit Service confirmed the expenditure was audited but has not explained its omission, prompting the Majority Chief Whip to warn that if proven, this could constitute an unprecedented public finance scandal.

    16 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 15 September

  1. COVID-19 audit cover-up may breach Audit Service Act

    The Majority Chief Whip says allegations that the Auditor-General concealed findings from its COVID-19 expenditure audit could breach the Audit Service Act, which requires the Auditor-General to report special audit findings to Parliament. An investigation found the special audit reported GH¢96.3 million for fumigation costs while government ministry documents indicated at least GH¢780 million in expenditure.

    15 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Dafeamekpor demands arrests if COVID-19 audit allegations proven true

    The Majority Chief Whip has called for immediate arrests if allegations from investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni's investigation into Ghana's COVID-19 expenditure are substantiated, describing the potential scandal as among the most serious public finance matters of the Fourth Republic. He expressed particular concern if the Auditor-General's office conducted a special audit but concealed material findings from Parliament.

    15 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 10 September

  1. Public trust deficit threatens socio-economic mobilisation—Ayariga

    Minister for Local Government Mahama Ayariga has warned that a growing loss of public confidence in government and some religious institutions is undermining citizens' willingness to support critical development programmes. He called for a concerted effort to rebuild trust across both political and faith-based institutions.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 7 September

  1. A Plus cites steps to prevent Gomoa land dispute violence

    Gomoa Central MP Kwame Asare Obeng says he alerted state institutions about a land dispute he feared could turn violent, including writing to the Lands Commission, Ministry of Local Government, and Ministry of Interior about boundary clarifications between Gomoa Central and Effutu.

    7 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Interior Ministry investigated boundary dispute before Gomoa-Effutu clashes

    MP Kwame Asare Obeng (A Plus) says the Ministry of the Interior and other state institutions investigated boundary concerns he raised before violent clashes between Gomoa and Effutu communities left three dead and 15 injured. A Plus said he sought clarification from the Lands Commission and Ministry of Local Government on administrative and traditional boundaries between the areas.

    2 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 24 August

  1. Government unclear on ownership of 24-hour market rollout

    The government has rolled out "24-Hour Economy Markets" across the country since January, publicly branding them as flagship deliveries, but the Presidency's own 287-page blueprint commits only to 24/7 fish markets, and the Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy has now stated the secretariat has no responsibility for market development and belongs under the Ministry of Local Government.

    24 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 22 August

  1. IDEG opposes presidential nomination of DCE election candidates

    The Institute for Democratic Governance opposes the government's proposal to have the President nominate five persons from whom three would contest District Chief Executive elections, saying it would exclude political parties and individuals not aligned with government and undermine free democratic choice. IDEG has long advocated for direct election of DCEs by the people without presidential intervention.

    22 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 20 August

  1. Ghana's NGOs should strengthen MMDAs, not replace them

    Ghana's NGOs should focus on building the capacity of local government institutions (MMDAs) rather than replacing them with project-based services that disappear when funding ends. This approach protects democratic accountability and ensures sustainable service delivery.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Kwadaso MCE launches 24-hour economy market construction project

    The Municipal Chief Executive for Kwadaso has cut the sod for construction of the municipality's 24-Hour Economy Market, which will operate round-the-clock and include a police station, banking centre, clinic and other amenities to support traders and facilitate continuous commercial activity.

    5 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 23 July

  1. PIAC urges direct MMDA involvement in oil-funded projects

    The Public Interest and Accountability Committee has called on government to directly involve Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in oil and petroleum-funded projects in their jurisdictions to ensure proper supervision, value for money, and holistic development. PIAC conducts inspection visits to districts to oversee management of petroleum revenues distributed through the Annual Budget Funding Amount.

    23 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Kpone landfill residents demand immediate closure over overflow crisis

    Residents of Kpone, Tema Community 25 and nearby areas are calling for the immediate decommissioning of the Kpone landfill, citing its capacity exceeded state and health threats including foul odours, pollution and disease risks. The overflow has also disrupted waste collectors, some of whom are resorting to unauthorised dumping sites, raising concerns about indiscriminate refuse disposal across surrounding communities.

    14 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 4 July

  1. NDPC begins review of regional and district planning guidelines

    The National Development Planning Commission has launched a comprehensive review of the Guidelines for the Operationalisation of the Regional Planning Coordinating Units and District Planning Coordinating Units to strengthen Ghana's decentralised planning system and improve coordination and development planning at regional and district levels. The review was initiated at an inception meeting in Accra with representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Regional Coordinating Councils, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

    4 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 3 July

  1. Two flood victims' bodies recovered near Weija in Greater Accra

    Two bodies believed to have been swept away during recent flooding were recovered at Adakope near Weija in the Weija Gbawe Municipality on Thursday, July 2. The discovery has renewed concerns about persistent flooding in the area, with local authorities citing inadequate drainage infrastructure and the need for long-term interventions.

    3 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Health Ministry coordinates disease prevention after Accra floods

    Following recent floods in parts of Accra including Circle VIP, Neoplan Station, and Achimota-Aloboshie, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has visited affected areas and tasked the Ghana Health Service to ramp up disease surveillance, risk communication, and community health actions. The Ministry has held a multi-agency meeting and is calling on MMDAs, health officials, and residents to enforce environmental sanitation and hygiene standards to prevent disease outbreaks and public health risks.

    1 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Tuesday 30 June

  1. NPP criticises government flood response, demands stronger action

    The New Patriotic Party has criticised the government's handling of flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, arguing that the government has failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster and calling for long-term solutions rather than public relations activities. The NPP also contended that splitting flood management responsibility between two ministries has resulted in poor coordination and ineffective command structure.

    30 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Monday 29 June

  1. NPP criticizes government's approach to recurring floods in Accra

    The New Patriotic Party has condemned the NDC government for "fiddling" with national anti-flood interventions following severe downpours that submerged parts of Accra on 29 June 2026, affecting the N1 Highway, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, and other areas. The opposition party argued the government is paying lip service to flood control needs rather than implementing genuine solutions.

    29 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

  1. GMet proposes legislative upgrade to Meteorological Authority

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency has proposed a new legislative framework to transform itself into the Ghana Meteorological Authority, with expanded regulatory powers to license meteorological operators, establish standards, and become the sole official source of national severe weather warnings and public safety alerts.

    12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 5 June

  1. Accra flooding renews questions on anti-flood taskforce

    Widespread flooding across Accra on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, displaced residents, damaged buildings, caused one fatality, and prompted public scrutiny of President Mahama's Anti-Flood Taskforce, inaugurated in March 2025 to tackle the country's perennial flooding.

    5 June 2026 · Daily Guide →

Monday 1 June

  1. Cabinet approves election of MMDCEs; amendments due before end 2026

    Cabinet has approved reforms to Ghana's decentralisation system, ending the appointment of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and instead having district chief executives elected directly by the people on a non-partisan basis. A new local governance law is expected to be laid before Parliament by the end of 2026, with the current batch of MMDCEs appointed by President John Dramani Mahama likely to be the last under the existing constitutional arrangement.

    1 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Ghana Sports Fund outlines plan for nationwide sports development

    Officials of the Ghana Sports Fund have outlined a roadmap aimed at transforming sports development through sustainable financing, grassroots talent development, infrastructure support, and transparent governance. The Fund, established after Parliamentary passage in December and Presidential assent the same month, began operational structures in January with an 11-member governing board chaired by Professor Koryoe Anim-Wright.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Aflao Traditional Council opposes High Court relocation to Glidzi

    The Aflao Traditional Council has rejected a proposal to relocate the High Court serving Ketu South Municipality to Glidzi, arguing that infrastructure challenges should be addressed through reconstruction at the current Denu site, which they view as more accessible and strategically positioned for justice delivery in the southern Volta Region.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Ministry of Local Government — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute