BEFORE 1988, what is now known as the Asuogyaman District formed part of the vast Kaoga District, which embraced big towns such as Anum, Boso, Akwamu, Frankadua and Somanya, which served as the capital.
In view of the large land area with its many villages and communities, most of which lacked the basic necessities of life such as schools, good drinking water, roads and clinics, it became necessary for the area to be split into two different political entities, namely Yilo Krobo and Asuogyaman.
Two main reasons accounted for such a decision.
The main reason was to ensure that budgetary allocations for each of the two assemblies could cater for the provision of infrastructure in most of the towns, communities, villages and hamlets which lacked such facilities, as well as short-term poverty alleviation initiatives like soft loans for the people to engage in income-generating ventures.
The second reason for the split was to ensure effective administration of the area, which is inhabited by the Krobos, Akwamus, Anums and the Bosos as well the Ewes, who had all co-existed peacefully over the years.
The Asuogyaman District, created in 1988, is bounded by the following districts: Kwahu North (Afram Plains) on the north west; Kpando North, north-east; Ho Municipality on the east; North Tongu, on the south-east and Lower Manya Krobo, south-west.
The district, with total land area of 1,507 square kilometres, is composed of 92 settlements. Some of the big towns in the district are Atimpoku, the capital; Akosombo, Akrade, Anum, Boso, Frankadua, Apeguso, Gyakiti, Adjena and Asikuma.
Most of the people are either peasant farmers or fishermen who fish in the Volta Lake, the largest water body in the area.
With the exception of Akosombo town, which can be described as “a state within a state” because the Volta River Authority is solely responsible for the provision of its social amenities and, therefore, has almost all of such facilities, almost all the other towns and villages lack basic amenities.
In view of that, previous administrations initiated a number of development programmes and projects such as the construction of schools, clinics and roads, some of which have been completed. Small loan schemes were also instituted for the people to either go into farming, fishing or petty trading, the main occupations in the district.
However, while some of the communities benefited from such projects and programmes, others, due to factors such inadequate funds and mismanagement, had to be left in the limbo.
It is in this direction that the district administration, headed by the newly appointed Chief Executive, Mr Johnson Ahiakpor, has decided to come up with a comprehensive development programme that would transform the district into one of the best in terms of social amenities and poverty alleviation.
Under a three-and-a-half-year programme, a number of social amenities such as schools and roads, some of which were constructed years ago and have become dilapidated, would be renovated and new ones built for communities that have not yet benefited from such facilities.
Agriculture will also be boosted through the formation of cooperatives to enable the farmers, fishermen and those engaged in livestock farming get the required inputs and financial support, while satellite markets would be provided for the marketing of the produce.
Micro-finance loans have also been featured in the programme under which beneficiaries would be linked to financial institutions and credited with funds, especially for those engaged in petty trading.
Tourism will also be seriously taken care of, especially cruising on the Volta River and lake from where one can have a clear view of the picturesque Akuapem-Togo Mountain Range, which is truncated by the river.
The district has a lot of arable land for all varieties of crops, particularly banana, citrus fruits and vegetables, while the Volta Lake is also a good source of varieties of fish such as tilapia, lobsters and shrimps, as well as tourism, all of which must be properly harnessed to enable the inhabitants rake in more income for their sustenance.
If the assembly is able to provide the required social amenities for the people, which, I believe, will be possible, it will put in the necessary mechanism to increase locally-generated income to complement donor support funds and the assembly’s share of the Common Fund to finance the projects and programmes to totally transform the place into one of the best in the region,” the DCE stated.
With a professional background in accountancy, it is expected that Mr Ahiakpor, who, until his appointment as a DCE was the accountant in charge of the Koforidua Office of the West African Examinations Council, would keep an eagle’s eye on the assembly’s finances so that the projects and programmes initiated would be carried through.
Much also would depend on the support of the traditional rulers, the people and the assembly members, who, in line with their obligations, have to identify the immediate needs of their communities to be taken care of.
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