The European Union has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly to establish an Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination Management Committee (ICMC).
The agreement is aimed at improving urban governance across Greater Tamale, where rapid expansion has increasingly blurred administrative boundaries.
The newly formed committee will serve as a platform for collaboration between the two assemblies, focusing on harmonising planning processes, identifying shared priorities and coordinating responses to common metropolitan challenges—particularly in spatial planning and solid waste management.
The initiative builds on ongoing collaboration between the assemblies, especially in waste management, where efforts are already underway to develop a unified system based on shared standards and coordinated planning.
Through the Sustainable Cities Project – Phase 1, funded by the EU and implemented by Expertise France under the supervision of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, both assemblies are receiving support to design and implement a joint waste management framework.
This includes defining collection zones across jurisdictions, introducing coordinated procurement systems through performance-based contracts, aligning operational standards and providing essential equipment such as refuse trucks, skips and containers.
The broader initiative targets six northern cities—Tamale, Damongo, Nalerigu, Bolgatanga, Yendi and Wa—aiming to strengthen urban planning, governance systems and public service delivery through sustainable and integrated approaches.
At the signing ceremony, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, praised the collaboration between the assemblies.
“What happens in one area affects the others. This committee is not a new administrative burden; it is a tool for harmony, efficiency and better services. It is also a sign of leadership, because it takes vision and courage to come together and say we will succeed together,” he said.
Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, highlighted longstanding boundary disputes between the two assemblies, attributing them to overlapping administrative and traditional demarcations.
“These issues have been lingering since the creation of Sagnarigu Municipality out of the original Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, creating some animosity that has remained unresolved,” he disclosed.
He urged both assemblies to prioritise joint planning and collaboration, particularly in addressing sanitation and infrastructure challenges.
“The two assemblies should now focus on sanitation challenges and develop solutions that accommodate waste generated across both districts. Many road networks also cut across the districts, and it is important you collaborate to bring harmony in the design and execution of road infrastructure,” he added.
Tamale Mayor, Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, underscored the need for collective action in tackling key development issues, including climate change, security, water and sanitation, and food security.
Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, Abdulai Imoro Gong, said the partnership would enhance governance and service delivery while driving sustainable development in the Greater Tamale area.
The Sustainable Cities Project – Phase 1 forms part of a broader EU–Ghana collaboration aimed at building resilient, inclusive and prosperous urban centres, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women and youth.
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