Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga announced that his ministry will fully support all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Regional Ministers in delivering the government’s development agenda.
The statement was made during a courtesy visit to His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, on Friday – the minister’s first official stop after being sworn into office.
Ayariga said the ministry’s portfolio covers three critical areas of national governance: local government, chieftaincy and religious affairs. He added that the ministry operates under the President’s direction and in coordination with the Executive Secretary to the President to strengthen Ghana’s decentralisation system.
"Now, the Local Government, the President, the Executive Secretary, Office of the President are fully going to support Local Government, District Municipalities, 261 MMDAs, and Regional Ministers to deliver their mandate," the minister stated.
The minister linked his local‑government mandate to the government’s proposed redevelopment of Jamestown in Accra, particularly the removal of a refuse heap that has accumulated for over 50 years. He outlined plans to reorganise the community into vertical, high‑rise residential spaces using stacked and refurbished containers to optimise land use.
"If you have one thousand containers and you place them on one another and then you create doors and windows and then you internal panelling and then you wire staircases, you can accommodate this entire population of about a hundred thousand people in less than ten per cent of the land," Ayariga explained. He stressed that the initiative would not evict residents but would reorganise the settlement into a more structured and livable community.
The redevelopment would be complemented with essential social amenities, including roads, public toilets, washrooms and eateries, the minister added.
Ayariga assured that his ministry will continue to work closely with MMDAs and Regional Ministers to ensure local governance effectively drives the government’s development priorities. He also urged Muslims to emulate the peaceful leadership of the Chief Imam.
Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, the National Chief Imam’s spokesperson, praised the minister for his respect and reverence for the Office of the National Chief Imam, noting that the minister had earlier communicated his intention to make the chief imam’s palace his first point of call after assuming office.
