The Project Oversight Committee (POC) of the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project convened to review the 2024 workplan for implementation.

The meeting which was chaired by Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) reviewed the progress report and workplan presented by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Through rigorous deliberations and comprehensive discussions, the POC granted approval for the implementation of the 2024 workplan.

With a firm commitment to advancing social cohesion within the project beneficiary communities and the Gulf of Guinea regions, the POC underscored the importance of effective communication strategies, emphasizing the imperative to ensure the citizens are well-informed about the project's achievements.

The committee directed the PIU to intensify communication efforts with the aim to foster transparency and engagement, thereby enabling broader community participation and support for the project's objectives.

The approved 2024 workplan signifies a significant milestone in the ongoing endeavor to achieve a project development objective.

Building upon previous achievements, the plan outlines strategic initiatives and targeted interventions designed to address key challenges and promote sustainable development.

Source: MLGDRD PR

(DARLING MAAME EFUA CANN, RHODALINE ABBA)

With funding from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union (EU), The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in the Northern Region through the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) is expected to benefit from a proposed urban resilient project.

The project would build the capacity of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly staff to withstand and adapt to the adverse impact of climate change.

The proposed project interventions would improve the living conditions of residents of Tamale through construction and rehabilitation of urban infrastructure, implementation of climate preventive strategies through a multi-stakeholder approach as well as strengthen the planning capacity of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly by mainstreaming climate change considerations.

The proposed project is in its preparation stage and expected to be finalized in the last quarter of this year for further action.

To start the preparation, the consultants on the proposed project would also engage with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and other key institutions to ascertain climate-related issues in the Region through appropriate project implementations to roll out effective mitigation strategies.

Source:     Sandra Owusu-Asamoah
                (MLGDRD, Public Relations)

As part of efforts to promote a conducive economic environment for the operations of the telecommunication companies and the Telecommunication Mast Operators within the country and also scale up developmental activities of MMDAs,  the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has met with representatives from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications GCT), Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), representatives of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other key stakeholders .

The meeting was to review and negotiate the rate for MMDAs fees and charges on communication masts and other telecommunication infrastructure and services for the year 2024.

In a preceding meeting held last year in July between the stakeholders, a 12.5% rate was agreed upon for  MMDAs to apply in the calculation of charges on communication masts and other telecommunication infrastructure and services.

The move was to address some inconsistencies that were detected in the application of rates of charges on some Telcos' infrastructure and Operating licenses as a result of noncompliance with the approved fee guidelines by some MMDAs.

The meeting which was held on Wednesday,  February  21,  2024, at the Ministry was mainly to agree on a favourable rate for all stakeholders.

Accordingly, at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders unanimously agreed to maintain the last year’s rate of 12.5% for the year 2024 and the sector Minister-designate, Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah was hopeful the agreement will be implemented effectively to ensure sanity in the system.

Sections 137, 141, and 150 of the Local Governance Act 2016, (Act 936) mandates the Minister of Local Government,  Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) to issue guidelines on fees and rates to be charged by the MMDAs for services and facilities.

In attendance at the meeting were; the Hon. Minister designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Chief Director of the Ministry, Alhaji Amin Abdul Rahaman and Directors or the Ministry, representatives from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, MTN, Vodafone, LUSPA, among others.

Source:            Sandra Owusu-Asamoah
(MLGDRD, Public Relations Unit)