THE Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre Oti Boateng, is the new President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
Daasebre Oti Boateng, who before his election was the Vice-President of the House and a former Government Statistician, was elected unopposed to succeed the late Konor of Yilo Krobo, Kpetepley Narh Dautey Ologo IV, who passed away in May this year.
At yesterday’s meeting of the 11-member House, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Paul Boateng, only announced to the gathering that “Nananom have by unanimous decision elected Daasebre Oti Boateng as the new President of the House” after which Mr Justice G.S. Suurubarreh, a Supervising High Court Judge, swore him into office.
In his acceptance speech, Daasebre Oti Boateng said although chieftaincy was an ancient institution for administration and governance, it had now been recognised as an important partner in the socio-economic development of the country.
He stated that the emergence of a new generation of chiefs who were agents of change, and the introduction of a new sense of dynamism and vision would go a long way to foster the national development agenda.
Daasebre Oti Boateng further told the House that an institute for chieftaincy development would be established in the country to strengthen and support traditional authorities in various areas and also to promote tourism.
He expressed his gratitude to members of the House and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, for their support.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, for his part, entreated chiefs in the region to help solve chieftaincy disputes, illegal chain saw and gold/diamond mining (galamsey), environmental degradation and HIV/AIDS in the area.
The Regional Minister, who expressed his satisfaction with the manner in which the police had recently dealt with crime, especially armed robbery, used the occasion to commend the police for a good work done.
The Regional Minister, who dwelt on other issues, refuted an allegation that the government was witch-hunting political leaders of the previous administration and explained that they were being held accountable for their stewardship as enshrined in the Constitution.
Earlier, Daasebre Oti Boateng announced the death of the late Konor of Yilo Krobo to the gathering after which the House observed a one-minute silence in his honour.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
GOVT COMMITED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AMENITIES — ANGMOR (PAGE 15)
THE District Chief Executive for Upper Manya Krobo, Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, has assured the people in the villages and hamlets of the government’s commitment to provide the necessary social amenities and poverty alleviation programmes that would improve their lot.
He stated that it was in that respect that the good projects initiated by the previous government would be continued.
Mr Angmor gave the assurance when he paid a familiarisation visit to a number of communities in the area to acquaint himself with the problems facing the people and also to explain the government’s policies to them.
Places visited included Buorso, Amlase, Sutri Akwenor, Akuapem Zuyanmunor, Poliwa Odortorm, Ternguanya and Samlesi Dornor.
According to the DCE, a number of social amenities such as roads, boreholes and school buildings had been initiated for such communities, and that the completion of such projects, together with ongoing poverty alleviations programmes like the school-feeding concept, capitation grant and the health insurance scheme, would go a long way to improve their lot.
He, therefore, asked the people to honour their tax obligations and offer communal labour on some of the projects to be completed on time.
“The government is committed to providing the required amenities to improve your lot but it is difficult for it to provide everything, so you must assist the government in doing so,” he told the people.
He also advised the assembly members to identify the needs of the people and work hard to meet those needs.
At Ternguanya, Mr Annor Emmanuel, secretary of the village’s RC and JSS’s PTA, who welcomed the DCE, appealed to him to help provide appropriate infrastructure for the two schools.
He stated that it was in that respect that the good projects initiated by the previous government would be continued.
Mr Angmor gave the assurance when he paid a familiarisation visit to a number of communities in the area to acquaint himself with the problems facing the people and also to explain the government’s policies to them.
Places visited included Buorso, Amlase, Sutri Akwenor, Akuapem Zuyanmunor, Poliwa Odortorm, Ternguanya and Samlesi Dornor.
According to the DCE, a number of social amenities such as roads, boreholes and school buildings had been initiated for such communities, and that the completion of such projects, together with ongoing poverty alleviations programmes like the school-feeding concept, capitation grant and the health insurance scheme, would go a long way to improve their lot.
He, therefore, asked the people to honour their tax obligations and offer communal labour on some of the projects to be completed on time.
“The government is committed to providing the required amenities to improve your lot but it is difficult for it to provide everything, so you must assist the government in doing so,” he told the people.
He also advised the assembly members to identify the needs of the people and work hard to meet those needs.
At Ternguanya, Mr Annor Emmanuel, secretary of the village’s RC and JSS’s PTA, who welcomed the DCE, appealed to him to help provide appropriate infrastructure for the two schools.
ASSIST GOVT TO GET RID OF FRAUD — AMPOFO (PAGE 15)
THE EASTERN Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has asked religious leaders to assist the government to get rid of Internet fraud and other devilish activities which people engage in to get rich overnight.
He also appealed to parents to question the sources of income of their children since it was mostly the youth who were normally involved in such acts.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the appeal when he addressed three congregations in the region on Sunday.
The occassions were a send-off service for the Reverend Clement Oboh of the Koforidua branch of the Full Gospel Church International who had been transferred to Accra, the 10th anniversary of the Men Fellowship of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, also at Koforidua, and the elevation of Reverend Emmanuel Joseph Badu as the head of the newly–created Kyebi District of the Assemblies of God Church.
According to the Regional Minister, although the government was doing its best to tackle the ‘Sakawa’ menace physically, it needed the support of the churches to take up the spiritual aspect of it, adding that the concerted effort of the two bodies would go a long way to deal with the issue.
He stated that it was unfortunate that some of the churches were focusing primarily on the acquisition of material wealth as a result of which many young persons had resorted to Internet fraud and other devilish ways of getting rich overnight, which he said often affected them negatively.
With regard to the environment, he said river, sources such as that of the Densu river were being polluted by illegal gold miners with dangerous chemicals while the vegetation cover was also disappearing fast due to wanton destruction, and that churches must include environmental degradation in their preaching to drum home the need for environmental preservation.
At the EP Church, the Principal of the EP seminary at Peki, the Rev (Dr) S.S. Agidi, asked Christians to be sensitive to the needs of one another and also follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
He also appealed to parents to question the sources of income of their children since it was mostly the youth who were normally involved in such acts.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the appeal when he addressed three congregations in the region on Sunday.
The occassions were a send-off service for the Reverend Clement Oboh of the Koforidua branch of the Full Gospel Church International who had been transferred to Accra, the 10th anniversary of the Men Fellowship of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, also at Koforidua, and the elevation of Reverend Emmanuel Joseph Badu as the head of the newly–created Kyebi District of the Assemblies of God Church.
According to the Regional Minister, although the government was doing its best to tackle the ‘Sakawa’ menace physically, it needed the support of the churches to take up the spiritual aspect of it, adding that the concerted effort of the two bodies would go a long way to deal with the issue.
He stated that it was unfortunate that some of the churches were focusing primarily on the acquisition of material wealth as a result of which many young persons had resorted to Internet fraud and other devilish ways of getting rich overnight, which he said often affected them negatively.
With regard to the environment, he said river, sources such as that of the Densu river were being polluted by illegal gold miners with dangerous chemicals while the vegetation cover was also disappearing fast due to wanton destruction, and that churches must include environmental degradation in their preaching to drum home the need for environmental preservation.
At the EP Church, the Principal of the EP seminary at Peki, the Rev (Dr) S.S. Agidi, asked Christians to be sensitive to the needs of one another and also follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Friday, July 24, 2009
VRA DREDGES VOLTA ESTUARY (BACK PAGE)
THE Volta River Authority (VRA) has successfully dredged the estuary of the Volta River at Ada, making it possible for the waters of the river and the sea to flow into each other.
The project, which cost GH¢1million and started in February, this year, was solely funded by the VRA.
Completion of the project has facilitated the flow of sea water into the river which experts say would increase its salinity and prevent weed infestation.
That, they say, would also help reduce cases of bilharzia in communities along the river.
Briefing some members of the Eastern Regional Press Corps after a tour of the estuary on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Executive of VRA in charge of Engineering and Operations, Mr Kirk Kofi, said the authority had to undertake such an exercise due to a number of factors.
He said tourism and socio-economic activities of the people in and around the area would also be boosted since large amounts of fish from the sea would breed in the fresh water.
According to Mr Kofi, creation of the Akosombo Dam in order to generate hydroelectric power had created public health problems such as water-borne diseases associated with the Volta Lake, and that the estuary had become the sanctuary for bilharzia snails, resulting in high incidence of bilharzia in the communities around the lower basin of the river.
To address the health and economic problems and restore the ecosystem in the area, he said VRA had since 1990 maintained a dredging programme to address the problems, adding that although it had successfully dredged the estuary, periodic dredging would be done to ensure that no heaps of sand would be gathered at the estuary to create similar problems again.
“Although the dam has been very beneficial to the country, it has also created problems for the people living along the river, especially those near the estuary, and we have to work around the clock to solve such problems,” Mr Kofi stated.
He said VRA, in line with its corporate social responsibility, had always been assisting those living along the Volta River, and that it would continue to do so to ensure that the inhabitants would also enjoy life just like others elsewhere.
Mr Ben Dogbe, Dredge Supervisor of the VRA, said although not all the heaps of sand gathered at the estuary had been cleared, the sea waves that penetrated the estuary would do away with the remaining sand in due course.
The project, which cost GH¢1million and started in February, this year, was solely funded by the VRA.
Completion of the project has facilitated the flow of sea water into the river which experts say would increase its salinity and prevent weed infestation.
That, they say, would also help reduce cases of bilharzia in communities along the river.
Briefing some members of the Eastern Regional Press Corps after a tour of the estuary on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Executive of VRA in charge of Engineering and Operations, Mr Kirk Kofi, said the authority had to undertake such an exercise due to a number of factors.
He said tourism and socio-economic activities of the people in and around the area would also be boosted since large amounts of fish from the sea would breed in the fresh water.
According to Mr Kofi, creation of the Akosombo Dam in order to generate hydroelectric power had created public health problems such as water-borne diseases associated with the Volta Lake, and that the estuary had become the sanctuary for bilharzia snails, resulting in high incidence of bilharzia in the communities around the lower basin of the river.
To address the health and economic problems and restore the ecosystem in the area, he said VRA had since 1990 maintained a dredging programme to address the problems, adding that although it had successfully dredged the estuary, periodic dredging would be done to ensure that no heaps of sand would be gathered at the estuary to create similar problems again.
“Although the dam has been very beneficial to the country, it has also created problems for the people living along the river, especially those near the estuary, and we have to work around the clock to solve such problems,” Mr Kofi stated.
He said VRA, in line with its corporate social responsibility, had always been assisting those living along the Volta River, and that it would continue to do so to ensure that the inhabitants would also enjoy life just like others elsewhere.
Mr Ben Dogbe, Dredge Supervisor of the VRA, said although not all the heaps of sand gathered at the estuary had been cleared, the sea waves that penetrated the estuary would do away with the remaining sand in due course.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
KWABENG PRESBY SCHOOL GETS COMPUTERS (PAGE 40)
THE Presbyterian Primary and Junior High School at Kwabeng, capital of the newly created Atiwa District in the Eastern Region, now have computers.
The 20 computers, with accessories, were the personal donation by Alhaji Mustapha Boateng, the Managing Director of Chocho Industries, who is also a citizen of Kwabeng.
Making the presentation at a ceremony at Kwabeng, Alhaji Mustapha Boateng, who is an old pupil of the school, said he took that initiative to ensure that the pupils were computer literate to properly fit into the fast-changing world.
He said it was unfortunate that schools in the rural areas such as Kwabeng should lack information and communication technology (ICT) facilities while those in the municipalities and metropolises had them.
Alhaji Mustapha Boateng said such an unfortunate situation had made it impossible for pupils in the rural areas to catch up with their counterparts in the municipalities.
He expressed the hope that the teachers would do their best to ensure that the pupils used the computers within a limited period.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Atiwa District Director of Education, Madam Stella Gyantu, said the donation had come at the appropriate time to enable the pupils to be at par in ICT with others elsewhere.
The Atiwa District Chief Executive, Mr Atta Twum, gave the assurance that the assembly would facilitate the engagement of computer literate teachers to take the pupils through computer classes.
The 20 computers, with accessories, were the personal donation by Alhaji Mustapha Boateng, the Managing Director of Chocho Industries, who is also a citizen of Kwabeng.
Making the presentation at a ceremony at Kwabeng, Alhaji Mustapha Boateng, who is an old pupil of the school, said he took that initiative to ensure that the pupils were computer literate to properly fit into the fast-changing world.
He said it was unfortunate that schools in the rural areas such as Kwabeng should lack information and communication technology (ICT) facilities while those in the municipalities and metropolises had them.
Alhaji Mustapha Boateng said such an unfortunate situation had made it impossible for pupils in the rural areas to catch up with their counterparts in the municipalities.
He expressed the hope that the teachers would do their best to ensure that the pupils used the computers within a limited period.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Atiwa District Director of Education, Madam Stella Gyantu, said the donation had come at the appropriate time to enable the pupils to be at par in ICT with others elsewhere.
The Atiwa District Chief Executive, Mr Atta Twum, gave the assurance that the assembly would facilitate the engagement of computer literate teachers to take the pupils through computer classes.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
PUMPING MACHINES SEIZED FROM GALAMSEY OPERATORS (PAGE 22, JULY 11)
ABOUT 50 water pumping machines being used by illegal gold miners (galamsey operators) in two different locations Asikam, near Kyebi and Akanteng about 10 kilometres from Akwatia, all in the Eastern Region have been impounded.
Also seized was a single barrelled gun ostensibly being used by the “galamsey” operators for the protection of the Asikam mines near the source of River Birim where spent cartridges were also found.
The seizure followed a surprise working visit to the two places by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo as well as well as armed security men made up of the police and military.
Other members of the team were officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission.
The “galamsey” operators who had a last minute hint about the visit, hurriedly abandoned their equipment made up of all sorts of mining equipment ranging from washers, water pumping and heavy machines such as excavators and hid in the surrounding thickets.
They, however, came out of their hiding places to plead for the seized equipment to be given back to them which was refused.
The two ministers who did not allow the security personnel to arrest any of them, however, urged them to obtain the required licences and permits after which they would be allowed to operate at locations about 200 feet from river beds and water bodies.
According to the two ministers, the government was worried about the pollution being caused to rivers such as the Birim which had large deposits of alluvial gold along its banks by the “galamsey” operators using cyanide and mercury, making the water unsafe for drinking.
They said apart from that, large tracks of arable farm land some of which were planted with cocoa, were being destroyed and the environment degraded.
The two ministers, therefore, advised the illegal operators to acquire licences and permits to be allowed to operate in such a way that would sustain their livelihood as well as the environment.
Alhaji Dauda and Mr Ampofo later called on the Abontendomhene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kyiretwie Boakye Danquah, at the Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi and Osabarima Kofi Boateng II, the chief of Akwatia, to solicit their support to clamp down “galamsey’ and other illegal chainsaw operators in Akyem Abuakwa.
Osabarima Boakye Danquah who was happy that the two ministers had taken steps to clamp down on the chains and “galamsey” operators, said although he personally took that initiative long ago, not much had been accomplished.
He, however, expressed the hope that with the support of the state security apparatus, a lot would be achieved.
For his part, Osabarima Boateng deplored the inability of previous governments to revive the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds company at Akwatia which had been closed down.
He attributed the upsurge in “galamsey” activities in the area to the closure of the mining company.
Osabarima Boateng, therefore, appealed to the government to speed up its divestiture process and give out the company to a competent investor who would be able to re-engage the workers who had been retrenched without any compensation.
At the headquarters of the GCD where the two ministers also visited, the workers complained about the inability of the company to pay them their salaries for the past 21 months as well as their provident fund although they had been at home for all that long.
Alhaji Dauda and Mr Ofosu Ampofo, however, gave the assurance that every effort was being made to revamp the GCD but advised the workers to prevent “galamsey” operators from encroaching on its concessions to make it attractive to an investor to acquire it for their sustenance.
Early on, the two ministers visited the Cocoa College at Bunso which is to be converted into an agricultural university through the initiative of the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
Also seized was a single barrelled gun ostensibly being used by the “galamsey” operators for the protection of the Asikam mines near the source of River Birim where spent cartridges were also found.
The seizure followed a surprise working visit to the two places by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo as well as well as armed security men made up of the police and military.
Other members of the team were officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission.
The “galamsey” operators who had a last minute hint about the visit, hurriedly abandoned their equipment made up of all sorts of mining equipment ranging from washers, water pumping and heavy machines such as excavators and hid in the surrounding thickets.
They, however, came out of their hiding places to plead for the seized equipment to be given back to them which was refused.
The two ministers who did not allow the security personnel to arrest any of them, however, urged them to obtain the required licences and permits after which they would be allowed to operate at locations about 200 feet from river beds and water bodies.
According to the two ministers, the government was worried about the pollution being caused to rivers such as the Birim which had large deposits of alluvial gold along its banks by the “galamsey” operators using cyanide and mercury, making the water unsafe for drinking.
They said apart from that, large tracks of arable farm land some of which were planted with cocoa, were being destroyed and the environment degraded.
The two ministers, therefore, advised the illegal operators to acquire licences and permits to be allowed to operate in such a way that would sustain their livelihood as well as the environment.
Alhaji Dauda and Mr Ampofo later called on the Abontendomhene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kyiretwie Boakye Danquah, at the Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi and Osabarima Kofi Boateng II, the chief of Akwatia, to solicit their support to clamp down “galamsey’ and other illegal chainsaw operators in Akyem Abuakwa.
Osabarima Boakye Danquah who was happy that the two ministers had taken steps to clamp down on the chains and “galamsey” operators, said although he personally took that initiative long ago, not much had been accomplished.
He, however, expressed the hope that with the support of the state security apparatus, a lot would be achieved.
For his part, Osabarima Boateng deplored the inability of previous governments to revive the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds company at Akwatia which had been closed down.
He attributed the upsurge in “galamsey” activities in the area to the closure of the mining company.
Osabarima Boateng, therefore, appealed to the government to speed up its divestiture process and give out the company to a competent investor who would be able to re-engage the workers who had been retrenched without any compensation.
At the headquarters of the GCD where the two ministers also visited, the workers complained about the inability of the company to pay them their salaries for the past 21 months as well as their provident fund although they had been at home for all that long.
Alhaji Dauda and Mr Ofosu Ampofo, however, gave the assurance that every effort was being made to revamp the GCD but advised the workers to prevent “galamsey” operators from encroaching on its concessions to make it attractive to an investor to acquire it for their sustenance.
Early on, the two ministers visited the Cocoa College at Bunso which is to be converted into an agricultural university through the initiative of the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
SEMINAR TO EMPOWER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ENDS (PAGE 14)
A ONE-DAY seminar to educate assembly members in the West Akyem Municipality on their responsibilities to the communities has ended at Asamankese, the municipal capital.
The seminar, which was organised by Sunkwa Foundation, a community-based organisation with funding from the German Development Service (DVD), took the assembly members through four topics, namely Local Government: The Role and Responsibilities of the Assembly Member, Conflict Resolution and Management, Planning Process, Revenue Generation and Mobilisation.
In an address, the Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Ansah Adjei, said it had become necessary to upgrade the knowledge of the assembly members to enable them to discharge their duties dispassionately.
Mr Ansah, who was an immediate past assembly member in the municipality, stated that since society had become dynamic and so many changes were taking place each passing day due to technological advancement, it had become necessary to educate assembly members to cope with the rapid changes in all aspects of life since they were the mouthpieces of their respective communities.
He expressed the hope that with such training, they would be able to better serve their communities to improve the lives of the people.
The West Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Seth Otchere who also addressed the participants, expressed the hope that the training would make the assembly members live up to their responsibilities, especially in areas such as conflict resolution and revenue mobilisation.
In another development, the Akuapem North District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr George Opare Addo, had assured the people in the district that the assembly would complete all ongoing projects and programmes initiated by the previous administration.
Addressing a special meeting of the assembly at Akropong at the weekend, Mr Opare Addo said the assembly had decided to complete such projects and programmes since they were selected based on the needs and aspiration of the people in the communities.
He cited some donor-funded projects like three-unit classroom blocks with offices and KVIP places of convenience for the Methodist JSS, the Anglican School and the District Assembly Primary School, all at Akropong, the district capital, as well as similar school blocks with the relevant facilities for the Methodist JSS and the Roman Catholic School at Larteh.
Other projects, he said, included a three-unit classroom block with an attached office and KVIP place of convenience for the Mampong Presbyterian Primary School, boreholes for villages such as Krobo Nkwanta, Baanu Ye, Ntiamoah, Miawani, Apirede Nkwanta and Duasin.
The DCE who told the gathering that every community would be provided with a social amenity, said the new offices being constructed for the assembly would also be given priority.
On health, he said the district’s mutual health insurance scheme had so far registered 70,976 persons, representing 67.76 per cent of the population with the total premium standing at GH¢82,250,40, while GH¢573,550.79 out of the claims totalling GH¢292,991.17 had been settled.
Mr Opare Addo further told the assembly members that efforts were being made to control HIV/AIDS and improve agriculture, education and tourism. He, therefore, solicited the support of the assembly members for the successful implementation of the initiatives.
The seminar, which was organised by Sunkwa Foundation, a community-based organisation with funding from the German Development Service (DVD), took the assembly members through four topics, namely Local Government: The Role and Responsibilities of the Assembly Member, Conflict Resolution and Management, Planning Process, Revenue Generation and Mobilisation.
In an address, the Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Ansah Adjei, said it had become necessary to upgrade the knowledge of the assembly members to enable them to discharge their duties dispassionately.
Mr Ansah, who was an immediate past assembly member in the municipality, stated that since society had become dynamic and so many changes were taking place each passing day due to technological advancement, it had become necessary to educate assembly members to cope with the rapid changes in all aspects of life since they were the mouthpieces of their respective communities.
He expressed the hope that with such training, they would be able to better serve their communities to improve the lives of the people.
The West Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Seth Otchere who also addressed the participants, expressed the hope that the training would make the assembly members live up to their responsibilities, especially in areas such as conflict resolution and revenue mobilisation.
In another development, the Akuapem North District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr George Opare Addo, had assured the people in the district that the assembly would complete all ongoing projects and programmes initiated by the previous administration.
Addressing a special meeting of the assembly at Akropong at the weekend, Mr Opare Addo said the assembly had decided to complete such projects and programmes since they were selected based on the needs and aspiration of the people in the communities.
He cited some donor-funded projects like three-unit classroom blocks with offices and KVIP places of convenience for the Methodist JSS, the Anglican School and the District Assembly Primary School, all at Akropong, the district capital, as well as similar school blocks with the relevant facilities for the Methodist JSS and the Roman Catholic School at Larteh.
Other projects, he said, included a three-unit classroom block with an attached office and KVIP place of convenience for the Mampong Presbyterian Primary School, boreholes for villages such as Krobo Nkwanta, Baanu Ye, Ntiamoah, Miawani, Apirede Nkwanta and Duasin.
The DCE who told the gathering that every community would be provided with a social amenity, said the new offices being constructed for the assembly would also be given priority.
On health, he said the district’s mutual health insurance scheme had so far registered 70,976 persons, representing 67.76 per cent of the population with the total premium standing at GH¢82,250,40, while GH¢573,550.79 out of the claims totalling GH¢292,991.17 had been settled.
Mr Opare Addo further told the assembly members that efforts were being made to control HIV/AIDS and improve agriculture, education and tourism. He, therefore, solicited the support of the assembly members for the successful implementation of the initiatives.
Friday, July 3, 2009
PROGRAMME TO TRANSFORM UPPER MANYA DISTRICT BEGINS (PAGE 14)
AN ELABORATE programme to transform the newly created Upper Manya District in the Eastern Region into one of the endowed districts in the region has begun.
Under the programme, most of the towns and communities in the district, which were carved out of the vast Manya Krobo District in 2008, would be provided with social amenities such as good roads, clinics and schools.
Unveiling the programme at this year’s first ordinary meeting of the assembly at Asesewa, the district capital on Monday, the District Chief Executive, Mr J.T. Angmor, said it had become necessary to undertake the programme because most of the communities lacked basic necessities of life.
He said although some of the projects initiated a few years ago in some of the communities had been completed, some were ongoing while others were yet to be provided.
Mr Angmor who mentioned the renovations of classroom blocks at Asesewa, Dawa Korlewa, tarring of two kilometers of Asesewa town roads as well as the extension of electricity to the District Assembly Primary School at Asesewa as some of the projects that had been completed, said some of the ongoing projects were a lorry park at Asesewa, a revenue shed, also at Asesewa, clinics at Sumuer Ternguaya and Samlesi, teachers bungalows at Anyaboni, a 16-seater KVIP toilet at Sekesua and culverts at Asesewa.
Other projects that were to be awarded on contract, he stated, included the maintenance of the Aboasa Junction-Kumakuma Sisi Feeder Road as well as the Sekesua-Ternguanya Road.
Other projects were electrification of the communities that had not yet been connected to the national grid, office buildings and residential accommodation for staff of the assembly, most of who stayed in far away places such as Koforidua.
According to Mr Angmor, as a newly-created district which needed to generate more revenue to support its development programme, its revenue collectors had performed poorly, adding that out of the GH¢903,300 projected to be collected as internally generated funds, grants and other sources, of which GH¢206,000 was targeted as internally-generated revenue,only a fraction had been collected.
Under the programme, most of the towns and communities in the district, which were carved out of the vast Manya Krobo District in 2008, would be provided with social amenities such as good roads, clinics and schools.
Unveiling the programme at this year’s first ordinary meeting of the assembly at Asesewa, the district capital on Monday, the District Chief Executive, Mr J.T. Angmor, said it had become necessary to undertake the programme because most of the communities lacked basic necessities of life.
He said although some of the projects initiated a few years ago in some of the communities had been completed, some were ongoing while others were yet to be provided.
Mr Angmor who mentioned the renovations of classroom blocks at Asesewa, Dawa Korlewa, tarring of two kilometers of Asesewa town roads as well as the extension of electricity to the District Assembly Primary School at Asesewa as some of the projects that had been completed, said some of the ongoing projects were a lorry park at Asesewa, a revenue shed, also at Asesewa, clinics at Sumuer Ternguaya and Samlesi, teachers bungalows at Anyaboni, a 16-seater KVIP toilet at Sekesua and culverts at Asesewa.
Other projects that were to be awarded on contract, he stated, included the maintenance of the Aboasa Junction-Kumakuma Sisi Feeder Road as well as the Sekesua-Ternguanya Road.
Other projects were electrification of the communities that had not yet been connected to the national grid, office buildings and residential accommodation for staff of the assembly, most of who stayed in far away places such as Koforidua.
According to Mr Angmor, as a newly-created district which needed to generate more revenue to support its development programme, its revenue collectors had performed poorly, adding that out of the GH¢903,300 projected to be collected as internally generated funds, grants and other sources, of which GH¢206,000 was targeted as internally-generated revenue,only a fraction had been collected.
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