Ghana has emerged as a continental leader in localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a replicable model for effective governance and implementation at a high-level side event on Multi-Level Governance during the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in Nairobi on May 28, 2025.
Representing Ghana, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Madam Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, outlined the country’s integrated approach to localising the SDGs—blending national policy leadership with robust local-level planning.
Madam Sowah highlighted the role of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as the apex institution driving the SDG agenda through planning guidelines, policy coordination, and national reporting frameworks that include SDG-aligned indicators.
She credited Ghana’s SDGs Advisory Unit, situated at the Office of the President, for ensuring whole-of-government coordination, alongside the Ministry of Finance, which supports the integration of the SDGs into planning and budgeting processes at the sub-national level.
“Ghana is demonstrating that effective SDG localisation is achievable when decentralised governance systems are equipped, aligned, and accountable,” she stated.
Among Ghana’s pioneering initiatives is the Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme, implemented with support from UN-Habitat. The programme leverages data-driven urban planning and community-based development to align city growth with global sustainability targets.
Ten Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies, including Accra, Ga West, and Sekondi-Takoradi, are already implementing components of the programme, with several undertaking Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs)—a rare step on the continent that underscores Ghana’s commitment to transparent local reporting.
Madam Sowah also cited the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) in Ga Mashie as a case study in how inclusive and targeted urban interventions can transform the lives of the most vulnerable urban populations.
Ghana’s local SDG efforts are underpinned by oversight from Regional Coordinating Councils and strategic support from institutions such as the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation and the Institute of Local Government Studies.
She reaffirmed Ghana’s endorsement of the forthcoming UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and the International Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities, saying, “Through inclusive planning and global partnerships, Ghana is proving that sustainable cities are within reach.”
Ghana’s comprehensive approach is being recognised as a beacon for other developing nations seeking practical strategies to translate global goals into measurable local impact.
