Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP)
Deputy Minister for Local Government,
Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
General Assembly Hall, UNHQ
July 16th, 2026, New York

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE MIDTERM REVIEW OF THE NEW URBAN AGENDA

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ghana welcomes this High-Level Meeting as an important milestone in accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards 2036. We commend the United Nations for convening this platform to review progress, identify gaps, and renew global commitment at this midpoint. Over the past decade, Ghana has made steady progress 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.

Multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9 percent in 2024 to 21.9 percent in 2025. Access to basic services remains high, with 96.9 percent access to water, 94.8 percent to electricity, and 63.4 percent to sanitation. These gains have been supported by social protection programmes, including LEAP, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the School Feeding Programme, as well as key reforms such as the Land Act and the Affirmative Action Act.

We have also strengthened urban governance, economic productivity, and institutional performance through digital systems, skills development, and private sector participation. However, progress has not kept pace with rapid urbanisation. Housing remains our most pressing challenge. Ghana faces a housing deficit of more than 1.8 million units, while up to 37 percent of the urban population lives in informal settlements.

Ghana is focused on four priority actions to accelerate delivery of the New Urban Agenda.
• First, scaling affordable and inclusive housing through implementation of the 2024 Housing Profile recommendations and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy.
• Second, strengthening integrated urban development and spatial planning through the National Urban Policy 2026 to 2035.
• Third, expanding urban infrastructure and local economic development through initiatives such as the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, GARID Project, the Smart SDGs Programme, and the Sustainable Cities Programme.
• Fourth, 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.

Looking ahead, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to accelerating implementation. We 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 will be pursued in partnership with our development partners, the private sector, and local communities Ghana underscores the importance of stronger international cooperation. We call for increased and predictable financing for housing and urban development, direct access to climate finance for cities, and expanded technical and multilateral collaboration.

In conclusion, Ghana remains firmly committed to ensuring that our cities provide adequate housing, basic services, resilience, and opportunity for all, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.

I thank you.