By: George Yawson Vineh
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), the Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Country Office today issued a joint statement commemorating World Habitat Day and renewing their shared commitment to building inclusive, resilient and crisis-ready human settlements across Ghana.
World Habitat Day is observed on the first Monday of October every year. The global theme for 2025 — “Urban crisis response” being localized “Resilient Cities, Inclusive and Clean Communities: Responding to Urban Challenges” highlights the multiple crises affecting cities today (from climate shocks to conflict and displacement) and the need for stronger, people-centred responses.
The statement further underscored the need to prioritise low-income households, informal settlers and displaced people in urban planning, housing policy and emergency responses.
Key points in the statement
• Scale up resilience investments. They called for accelerated investment in flood-resilient infrastructure, safe drainage, affordable housing solutions and climate-smart public services.
• Strengthen local governance and partnerships. The MLGRD and MWH together with UN-Habitat urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the private sector and community groups to deepen collaboration on land-use planning and crisis preparedness.
• Use data and inclusive planning. The statement promoted better data systems, local contingency plans and participatory approaches that include women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Quotes (summarised)
• The joint statement said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development reaffirmed its role in empowering local assemblies to lead inclusive recovery and preparedness efforts.
• The Ministry of Works and Housing emphasised accelerating delivery of affordable, safe housing and investing in climate-resilient public works.
• The UN-Habitat Country Office highlighted UN technical support for Ghana’s national and local authorities, especially on crisis-sensitive planning and durable solutions for displaced and vulnerable urban populations.
(These paraphrased points reflect the joint statement’s central themes and calls to action.)
What this means for Ghana
By aligning with the global World Habitat Day focus on urban crisis response, the three institutions signalled a step-up in coordinated policy and programme action — from integrating disaster risk reduction into housing programmes to supporting MMDAs with tools for rapid response and longer-term recovery. Past Ghana observances have featured ministerial engagements and stakeholder dialogues on housing and local governance — building on an existing platform of national action.
Call to action
The partners invited civil society, the private sector, development partners and the media to join national and local events throughout Urban October to:
• promote awareness of crisis risks in urban areas;
• showcase locally led resilience projects; and
• mobilise resources for affordable, climate-resilient housing and services