The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for La-Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odolley Sowah, has reiterated the country’s commitment to accelerating delivery of the New Urban Agenda.

According to the Deputy Minister, Ghana has prioritised four key actions to realise the New Urban Agenda, including scaling affordable and inclusive housing through implementation of the 2024 Housing Profile recommendations and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy, and strengthening integrated urban development and spatial planning through the National Urban Policy (2026–2035).

She revealed that the other priority areas are the expansion of urban infrastructure and local economic development through targeted initiatives.

The Minister further stated that these initiatives include the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, the Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, the Smart SDGs Programme, and the Sustainable Cities Programme.

Ms Odolley said the country is also advancing climate‑resilient and environmentally sustainable cities while strengthening urban governance, institutional capacity, coordination, and data systems, including the operationalisation of a Ghana Urban Observatory.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly High‑Level Political Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States, on behalf of the sector minister, Hon Ahmed Ibrahim, Ms Odolley Sowah observed that the high‑level meeting was an important milestone in accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards 2036, and commended the United Nations for convening the platform to review progress, identify gaps, and renew global commitment at the midpoint of the initiative.

However, she highlighted the steady progress Ghana has made over the past decade through strong national leadership, decentralised governance, and evidence‑based planning led by the National Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

"Ghana had strengthened urban governance, economic productivity, and institutional performance through digital systems, skills development, and private sector participation," she said.

She admitted, however, that the progress has not kept pace with rapid urbanisation, and that housing remains the most pressing challenge.

Madam Odolley affirmed to world leaders that Ghana faces a housing deficit of more than 1.8 million units, while up to 37 per cent of the urban population live in informal settlements, informing the focus on the four identified priority areas.

She assured the gathering that Ghana will scale up affordable housing and slum upgrading, strengthen local government fiscal capacity, expand sustainable urban financing, integrate climate resilience into planning and infrastructure, and enhance data systems and digital governance.

These efforts, she noted, will be pursued in partnership with development partners, the private sector and local communities, stressing that Ghana will reinforce the importance of stronger international cooperation.

She called for increased and predictable financing for housing and urban development, direct access to climate finance for cities, and expanded technical and multilateral collaboration.

"The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on October 20, 2016. This was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at its sixty‑eighth plenary meeting of the seventy‑first session on December 23, 2016.

The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future.

She noted that, If well-planned and well-managed, urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries.

Ghana’s delegation to the High‑Level Political Forum included members of the Parliamentary Select Committees on Water Resources, Works and Housing, as well as officials from the Ministry of Local Government.