CLGF’s Local Economic Development (LED) work in Ghana was highlighted at a recent workshop in Accra. 

The week-long training workshop and stakeholder meeting took place in the Ghanaian capital at the end of May and was organised by the Migration and Development (MADE) Civil Society Network and the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD) in Accra. The purpose of the event was to look at ways of supporting local authorities in Ghana and Sierra Leone to maximise the potential of migration and development. 

Conducive environment for SMEs

In a panel session, CLGF West Africa Programme Officer, Ms Joyce Ekuful, explained that CLGF was working with four districts in Ghana: Nadowli Kaleo District Assembly, Asunafo North Municipal Assembly, Ayensuano District Assembly and Tema Metropolitan Assembly. She told delegates: “The LED projects in Ghana, supported by CLGF, are expected to create a conducive environment for small and medium enterprises within each of the assemblies; and to allow them to operate effectively and contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”  

Pushing LED agenda

CLGF had previously worked in partnership with Bo District Council in Sierra Leone to implement similar LED projects and is in the process of embarking on new initiatives with other councils. Ms Ekuful called on diaspora communities to partner with CLGF and other stakeholders to push the LED agenda forward. 

The event brought together local authorities and small and medium enterprises from Sierra Leone and Ghana, as well as diaspora investors who discussed the options for partnership to channel diaspora resources towards local economic development, job and wealth creation. 

More information about the projects in Ghana can be found in the publication: Achieving the SDGs through LED in Ghana.