To tackle a housing deficit of over 1.83 million units while curbing carbon emissions, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, alongside UN partners, have officially launched the Transforming Ghana's Built Environment Through Sustainable Materials Demonstration Project. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by UNEP, UNOPS, and UN-Habitat in partnership with the Ministry, the initiative operationalizes Ghana's 2050 Construction Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap.  Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasized the urgency of shifting away from traditional, energy-intensive building methods. "We cannot continue to use the same approach of yesterday to achieve the results we need tomorrow," he stated, noting that the project will test scalable, low-carbon solutions through the District Housing Programme.  Speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, UNOPS Head of Office Ms. Linda Agbesi noted that the project promotes a whole life-cycle approach to housing: "Through this strategic partnership, the government and the UN system are promoting low carbon housing prototypes for sustainable communities in Ghana and strengthening networks of low carbon materials and upscaling the inclusion of alternative construction practices in the country, while supporting transfer to low-carbon materials in the housing sector."  The launch event doubled as a validation workshop, featuring technical sessions led by Blue Alliance. Stakeholders reviewed techno-economic feasibility studies, financial analyses, and a newly drafted Compendium of Locally Available Low-Carbon Building Materials.  The event also celebrated the awarding of international EDGE Certification to three local housing prototype models, setting a strong benchmark for sustainable and affordable housing delivery across Ghana. 

The UN in Ghana has stepped up its breast cancer awareness activities, calling for greater public awareness, early detection and timely treatment to help reduce deaths from the disease.Ghana recorded an estimated 5,487 new breast cancer cases and 2,695 deaths in 2024, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen public education, encourage screening and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment.At an event attended by UN staff in Ghana, officials from the Ghana Health Service and representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) to announce its planned activities, WHO Country Director Dr. Fiona Braka noted that the UN in Ghana is supporting the national Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, launched in September, by amplifying public awareness messages, promoting breast health and encouraging early detection and timely intervention. Dr. Braka highlighted the global and national breast cancer situation and called for evidence-based action and increased resources to improve outcomes.  Dr. Wallace Odiko of the Ghana Health Service emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts to address the disease and expressed appreciation to the UN in Ghana for joining national efforts to increase awareness. Providing practical guidance, Dr. Nana Ama Christian, a specialist surgeon at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, briefed participants on early detection, breast self-awareness and where to access screening services. She encouraged staff to be familiar with their breasts, pay attention to unusual changes and seek medical advice promptly if they notice anything concerning. She noted that breast cancer primarily affects women but can also occur in men. According to Dr, Christian, some of the warning signs include a new lump or thickening in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, skin changes and unusual nipple discharge. She therefore advised that anyone who notices such changes should seek medical evaluation promptly and to consult qualified health professionals about appropriate screening recommendations and available services. The UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury, stressed the importance of collective action and sustained awareness in promoting better health outcomes.A key moment of the event was a testimony by breast cancer survivor Madam Ernestina Agyapong, who shared her personal experience and journey. Her account highlighted the importance of seeking medical attention promptly and the vital role of support systems at home, in the workplace and in health facilities in helping people navigate diagnosis and treatment.As part of its ongoing awareness efforts, the UN in Ghana plans to organise webinars, screening opportunities, counselling and staff engagement activities. These initiatives aim to encourage informed conversations about breast health, reduce stigma and strengthen support for people affected by breast cancer.

In Nyange, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, children met with a team of United Nations officials to share their experiences, challenges, aspirations, and priorities for their communities. Among them was 12-year-old Agartha (not her real name), who hopes to pursue a career in medicine. “I want to be a doctor in the future so that I can help my mother and siblings,” she said. “I would be happy if we had a good classroom to learn in and food to eat after school.”  Elsewhere in the Ashanti Region, community members highlighted environmental degradation as a major development challenge affecting their livelihoods. They pointed to issues such as illegal mining (galamsey), rapid urbanization, and weak land-use controls, which have contributed to land degradation and the pollution of water bodies.  In the Volta Region, older persons shared their perspectives on the challenges they face in accessing social services and economic opportunities, while calling for greater inclusion in development planning processes. They also highlighted how organised groups for older persons help them support their own health and well-being. An 89-year-old coordinator of one such group said he would welcome regular support to maintain the basic equipment they rely on to monitor their well-being. He hopes that the health and social protection needs of older persons will receive greater attention in development planning and programming.  Although the issues raised varied across communities, a common theme emerged: development interventions are most effective when they reflect the needs and priorities of the people they are intended to serve. These perspectives were gathered through a series of sub-national consultations conducted by the United Nations in Ghana as part of the process of developing the next United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the country. As the global community enters the final phase of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the new Cooperation Framework will guide how the UN supports Ghana’s national development priorities, helping to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while responding to emerging challenges and opportunities.  Over nearly two weeks, the UN in Ghana, led by the Resident Coordinator’s Office, and with the support of six UN agencies and some partners, including the Embassy of Denmark and the Ministry of Finance visited more than 20 communities across six regions, namely Upper East, Savannah, Bono East, Ashanti, Volta, and Western Regions, to engage directly with people on the issues that matter most to them. The consultations brought together community members, local authorities, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious  leaders, women, security services, young people, persons with disabilities, informal private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that diverse perspectives were reflected in future development priorities.  The engagements provided valuable insights into the varied development realities across the country. Commenting on the process, the UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury emphasized the importance of community participation in development planning. “Development cannot be designed solely from conference rooms in capital cities,” he said, stressing that sustainable solutions must be informed by the voices and priorities of communities. A regional stakeholder also welcomed the initiative, noting that “the UN has often felt distant at the local level. I am glad you are now taking a bottom-up approach.” This he believes would help strengthen understanding of the UN’s work at the local level.  Across the consultations, communities highlighted issues ranging from food security and climate resilience in northern Ghana, to economic transformation and youth employment in the middle belt, and agricultural productivity and value chains, coastal livelihoods and environmental sustainability in southern communities.  Attention was given to engaging women, young people, persons with disabilities, migrants, and other groups that are often underrepresented in decision-making processes. Dedicated sessions were held with children and adolescents. In total, 487 people participated in the consultations, providing insights into the inequalities and barriers that must be addressed to ensure inclusive development, as well as ensuring development responses that are tailored to local contexts.  The findings from these consultations will directly inform the design of the next Cooperation Framework, helping to ensure that future UN support is evidence-based, partnership-driven, and responsive to the realities of communities across Ghana. As Ghana approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, the country has an opportunity to build on progress made while addressing persistent challenges, including inequalities, youth unemployment, climate vulnerabilities, and pressures on public services. The years ahead will be critical in determining how development gains can be sustained and accelerated. In the coming weeks, the UN in Ghana, together with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, the Cooperation Framework Joint Steering Committee, and partners, will begin drafting the next Cooperation Framework. This process will build on the insights gathered during the consultations and help shape a shared vision for Ghana’s development beyond 2030. 

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Fido Micro Credit Limited have signed a performance-based partnership agreement to scale digital financial services for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a deliberate focus on women and young entrepreneurs and businesses in underserved regions of Ghana.The agreement, signed in Accra on 14 August, today 1 September launches the scale-up phase of Fido Biz, a digital lending product, developed by Fido and enhanced under the Joint SDG Fund Programme on Leveraging Digital Ecosystems for Increased MSME Productivity. The programme is implemented by UNCDF, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.The partnership builds on work initiated in 2025, when Fido was selected as one of five financial service providers to develop digital financial solutions tailored to the needs of underserved MSMEs in Ghana. With technical support from UNCDF, Fido conducted research with business owners across the Northern, Ashanti, Greater Accra and Western regions. Findings from the research informed the design and testing of a digital lending product that responds to the financing needs of women- and youth-led enterprises.The solution was showcased in July 2026 during an MSMEs Day stakeholders’ roundtable in Accra, where five market-ready digital financial products developed through the programme were presented to donors, investors and financial service providers. Following this process, Fido was selected as one of two providers to advance to the programme’s scale-up phase.From Digital Innovation to ScaleUnder the agreement, Fido will expand the enhanced Fido Biz product through July 2027, and roll out an enhanced version of the Fido Academy increasing access to finance for micro and small enterprises that often face barriers to obtaining credit through conventional lending channels while ensuring financial literacy reaches the intended target groups.A key feature of the product is its use of digital transaction data to assess creditworthiness, reducing reliance on collateral and formal financial records. This approach addresses a longstanding challenge faced by many MSMEs in Ghana: viable businesses frequently struggle to access financing because they lack the documentation or assets typically required by traditional lenders. By leveraging digital transaction histories to build financial profiles, the initiative seeks to broaden access to credit based on actual business activity. The scale-up will place particular emphasis on northern Ghana, where access to formal financial services remains limited.Through the partnership, the programme aims to reach 15,655 women- and youth-led MSMEs with digital financial services, including 7,828 women and 10,176 young people. An estimated 12,500 MSMEs are expected to access savings and loan products, while approximately GHS 10.6 million in capital is projected to be catalysed.Building an Integrated Digital Ecosystem for MSMEsThe partnership forms part of a broader Joint Programme designed to address MSME financing and productivity challenges through three interconnected pillars: policy, platform and finance.At the policy level, the programme supports implementation of Ghana’s National E-commerce Strategy. At the platform level, it leverages the government-owned MSME Digital Gateway, launched nationally in June 2026. The finance component, led by UNCDF, focuses on expanding access to digital financial products for underserved MSMEs, particularly those led by women and young entrepreneurs.The collaboration with Fido demonstrates how these elements can work together to move innovative financial solutions from pilot testing to large-scale implementation. By improving access to appropriate financial services, the initiative aims to help MSMEs invest, grow their operations, create jobs and contribute to local economic development.The agreement represents an important step in advancing inclusive digital finance in Ghana, demonstrating that serving underserved MSMEs can be both commercially viable and a driver of sustainable and inclusive economic growth.