ACCRA, 22 September, 2026 – The Partnership for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) Project has formally concluded its implementation in Ghana, with partners calling for its institutional gains, partnerships and community-level interventions to be sustained beyond the project period.

The call was made at the PMI-WILL Closing Knowledge Exchange Event, held on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Dzorwulu, Accra. The event brought together the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), participating Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Canadian municipal partners and other stakeholders.

From Project Closure to Institutional Continuity

NALAG President, Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, urged participants to regard the closing event as a platform for honest reflection and learning rather than simply a ceremonial conclusion.

He emphasised that the end of the project should not bring an end to the development work generated through the partnership.

“Projects may have administrative end dates, but development outcomes should continue institutionally and in communities.”

He called for knowledge generated through PMI-WILL to be retained within NALAG and participating assemblies, while successful approaches should be adapted and replicated where appropriate.

NALAG General Secretary, Mr. Sheriff Amarh, reinforced the message, saying the gathering was intended to celebrate achievements while examining the evidence of change generated through the project.

He said stakeholders needed to identify what worked, what did not and how the gains could be sustained.

“The knowledge, partnerships and institutional systems developed through PMI-WILL should remain useful to NALAG, participating assemblies and communities.”

Women’s Leadership at the Centre

Project Director of PMI-WILL at FCM, Mary Heather White, described the initiative as a capacity-building partnership involving NALAG, MMDAs, the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service, Global Affairs Canada and Canadian municipal partners.

She highlighted challenges addressed by the project, including gender stereotypes affecting women’s leadership, gaps in inclusive policies and limitations in institutional capacity.

White also pointed to institutional strengthening within NALAG and efforts to promote gender equality. She said PMI-WILL had built relationships that could support future collaboration and continuous learning.

The representative of the Canadian High Commission, Francoise Nduwimana, stressed that women’s participation in local governance should not be measured by numbers alone.

“Representation was not simply a matter of numbers, but also of ensuring that women’s voices were heard.”

The NALAG Women’s Caucus also reflected on the project’s contribution to women’s confidence and leadership experience, including the progression of some women into municipal and district leadership positions.

Stories of Change and Community Impact

The knowledge exchange forum used Most Significant Change Story Circles to examine how PMI-WILL affected institutions, women leaders and communities.

One institutional story focused on sexual harassment in local government. A 2022 study involving 13 MMDAs identified the issue as a significant concern. A broader study followed in 2023, using focus group discussions, key informant interviews and an online survey.

The process contributed to the development of a sexual harassment policy and communication strategy, demonstrating how a concern identified at local level could inform a wider institutional response.

Another story came from Madam Esther Abaching, who reflected on the influence of PMI-WILL capacity building on her professional and leadership journey. Her experience included training, planning, advocacy and lobbying for women’s participation in local governance.

Service delivery was another major focus.

Participants discussed a school intervention that responded to low kindergarten enrolment and difficulties faced by mothers whose children had to access education outside their community. The intervention was linked to improved access to education and greater opportunity for mothers to participate in economic activity.

Sustainability Becomes the Next Challenge

During the sustainability session led by Madam Suzan Yemidi of Redix Consultancy, participants examined how inclusive governance practices, policies and networks could survive beyond project funding.

A key conclusion was that PMI-WILL-inspired activities should become part of regular institutional planning and budgeting rather than remain identified solely as project activities.

Mr. Amarh identified several measures for sustaining the gains, including strengthening the NALAG Women’s Caucus and regional women’s platforms, maintaining gender-responsive planning, continuing staff capacity development and using the strategies, manuals and guides produced through the project.

He also called for continued documentation and communication of PMI-WILL’s impact.

“NALAG should continue telling the PMI-WILL story to development partners and other potential supporters so that the gains achieved can be sustained and expanded.”

Ghana-Canada Partnership

The closing event also featured reflections from Canadian municipal partners, including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Town of Collingwood and the Regional Municipality of Halton.

The closing ceremony ultimately underscored a distinction central to the PMI-WILL experience: administrative closure does not necessarily mean the end of development impact.

For NALAG, FCM, participating assemblies and communities, the next phase will depend on how effectively the project’s knowledge, institutional systems, partnerships and practices are embedded in routine local governance.