The officials included Mr. Irchad Razaaly, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, and Mr. Jules-Armand Aniambossou, French Ambassador to Ghana.

The others were Mr. Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister as well as Mrs. Pamela Adofo Ansong, Head of Rural and Urban Development Unit of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA).

A joint statement made available to the Ghana News Agency by the EU, Government of Ghana and France, said Since 2022, both France and the EU had collaborated on sustainable cities development in the northern part of Ghana.

It said this partnership started with the first €15 million Sustainable Cities Project Phase 1, which had been launched in September 2024 in Tamale, and was currently being implemented in six cities.

The cities include Tamale, Nalerigu, Wa, Bolgatanga, Damongo and Yendi.
It said the project which was being funded by the EU was being implemented by the Agence Française de Développement Groupe - Expertise France (AFD Group).

The statement said the project focused on urban planning and management, providing essential services like waste management, recreational areas, and water access.

"It also includes creating an Urban Observatory (UO) to monitor urban development and management across sectors," it added.

It said the EU and France, recognising the challenges faced by residents in the six cities, partnered to provide additional funds to help the Government of Ghana tackle urban development issues and boost socio-economic growth in the Tamale Metropolis and surrounding areas.

The Northern Regional Minister speaking on behalf of Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the sector minister, said the visit further symbolised their joint interest in fostering development in the Northern part of Ghana.

"It is an opportunity to further strengthen the collaboration and partnership that exist between the Government of Ghana, EU and the French Government, to address the critical development challenges," he added.

Mr. Razaaly said the partnership aimed to drive greater prosperity for both the people and the economy in the Northern Region.

"This initiative brings together the EU Delegation, France, the European Investment Bank, and Hungary, as well as non- EU partners like UNICEF, to mobilize funding and collaborate on the development of urban areas in the north," he stressed.

The EU Ambassador said they were finalising a new intervention estimated at €55.5 million focusing on sanitation and climate resilience.
He said they were also engaging new partners such as Denmark and the Netherlands to explore ways to improve access to water in Wa, Tamale, and Damongo, where the situation was critical, adding that discussions with the Government on this matter had already begun.

Mr. Aniambossou said in Tamale and Northern Ghana, France wants to implement projects which would have a real and sustainable impact on local people's daily lives.

He said in the current context of climate change, it was crucial to support the improvement of living conditions, and that these projects were designed in partnership with local authorities and communities, to understand their needs and address them.