In Ghana, Minister Ayariga pledges support for 261 local assemblies
Ghana’s Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, said his ministry is ready to support 261 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, as well as regional ministers, in implementing the government’s development agenda. MyJoyOnline reports.
Ayariga made the statement on Friday during a courtesy visit to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu. The minister described the meeting as his first official engagement after taking the oath of office.
Support for local government
According to Ayariga, his portfolio covers local government, traditional institutions and religious affairs. The ministry works under the president’s leadership and in coordination with the president’s executive secretary to strengthen the country’s decentralization system.
The minister said the ministry would play one of the central roles in implementing initiatives aimed at improving local governance, engagement with traditional leaders and relations with religious institutions. He also assured continued cooperation with the assemblies and regional ministers.
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Proposed redevelopment of Jamestown
During the visit, Ayariga mentioned the proposed redevelopment of the Jamestown area in Accra. In particular, he linked these plans to the removal of a landfill believed to have accumulated there for more than 50 years.
The minister announced plans to reorganize the community by creating vertical multi-storey living spaces from stacked and repurposed containers. According to him, this approach could accommodate about 100,000 people on less than 10% of the area. The plan also includes roads, public toilets, showers and food establishments.
Ayariga stressed that the idea, according to him, would not mean evicting residents, but rather transform horizontal development into more compact vertical development. The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, thanked the minister for his respectful attitude toward the Chief Imam’s institution and his decision to make his first official visit to its residence.
