LOWER MANYA UNDERGOES TRANSFORMATION (PAGE 26, JAN 5)

four of the Eastern Region’s 21 districts - Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo and Asuogyaman - constituted a single political entity known as the Kaoga District before 1974.
The large area, which could best be described as a sub-region was inhabited by the Manya Krobos, Yilo Krobos, the Anums and the Bosos, the indigenous people as well as the Ewes and other ethnic groups.
Most of the people are in agriculture while a significant number are fishermen, fishing in the nearby Volta Lake.
The large area inhabited by people from the five paramountcies of Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Akwamu, Anum and Boso made it difficult to administer, although the heterogeneous population had been co-existing peacefully over the years. That was because available financial resources could not adequately provide infrastructure for the area which comprises big towns such as Somanya, Odumase-Krobo, Asesewa, Kpong, Agormenya, Atimpoku as well as other numerous communities.
It was, therefore, decided to divide the area first into three, Yilo Krobo, Asuogyaman and Manya Krobo.
The Manya Krobo District, which had an area of 1,476 square kilometres, was again sub-divided into two - Upper Manya Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo - with Odumase-Krobo as its capital.
Although the balkanisation of the area made it possible for the communities in Lower Manya Krobo to have some of the necessary infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, clinics and roads, some of the communities could not benefit from such facilities.
This is because although the Lower Manya Krobo District has a smaller land area, (383 square kilometres) when compared with its neighbour, Upper Manya, its population of 97,117 (2008 estimates) is by far more than that of the latter so despite efforts made by previous governments to develop its communities, others could not benefit from such programmes.
The Lower Manya District comprises most of the big towns, namely Odumase-Krobo, the district headquarters with a population of 25,000 (2008 estimates); Kpong (17,000) Kpongunor (16,900). Akuse (8,352) and Agormanya (13,777) as well as the other numerous villages and communities which do not have some of the basic social amenities.
It is in this respect that the current district assembly under the direction of Mr Isaac Tetteh-Agbo, the District Chief Executive (DCE), has initiated a development programme to ensure that every community would have a share of the national cake in terms of infrastructure development and other poverty-alleviation programmes.
To achieve a meaningful result, the 31-year-old political head, apart from continuing with the viable development projects initiated by the previous administration has also come out with additional programmes that would hasten the development of the area.
Under the programme, which would cover a four-year period, a number of projects, some of which started less than six months ago, have already been completed. They were funded from the district’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund, the assemblies internally generated funds and donor funding.
Other programmes are at various stages of completion while some are yet to start. Some of the donor funding came from the European Union and German Technical Co-operation.
They include the rehabilitation of the Odumase-Krobo town roads, most of which have been completed, a European Union-funded clinic which was built within a record period of six months at Yonguase, a very deprived farming village, teachers bungalows at Oborpa-Gyakiti and Oblemanya and the rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings some of which were constructed more than four decades ago in Odumase-Krobo, Agormanya, Akuse, Kpong, as well as KVIP places of convenience at Asite and Kojonya.
Other schools such as the Matse Israel District Assembly (D/A) at Abanse, the Kpong R/C and the Amedika D/A would be covered in the schools’ rehabilitation exercise.
Communities such as Wawase, Asite, Apra-Aboley, Kojonya, Abutia and Obelemanya, identified as bilhazia-prone areas because the inhabitants rely on water from the Volta Lake, will also be provided with potable water.
“The assembly has, within a very limited period, done a lot, especially in the educational sector, which is our priority area where new school buildings are being built and old ones being rehabilitated”, the DCE stated.
The DCE indicated that needy pupils and students were also being supported by the assembly to continue with their education. In line with this, a special fund had been set up to give soft loans to teachers to boost their morale to offer their best and improve the performance of the pupils at the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
One significant aspect of the programme is the development of a one-kilometre loop overlooking the Volta River at Kpong as a “tilapia beach” where fresh and smoked tilapia will be available, and a centre which would also be provided with the latest recreational facilities like speed boats.
The facility, a joint venture between the assembly and local/foreign investors, will turn the town to a tourist paradise when completed.
To beautify and decongest the cluster of towns comprising Odumase-Krobo, Agormanya, Nuase and Kpong, all artisans, particularly those operating auto mechanical workshops would be relocated at Whekper near Okwenya.
On poverty alleviation, the assembly has provided working kits to 30 young persons who have completed various vocational courses to set up their own businesses.
It has also acquired a large stretch of land at Okwenya for the youth to go into block farming to produce vegetables and generate income for themselves.
The success of such an elaborate development programme would, however, depend on support from the assembly members, the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Michael Nyaunu, and the traditional authority led by the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite, all of whom have demonstrated their resolve to ensure the rapid development of the district.
And judging from the harmonious relations existing between these major development players and the district chief executive, the Lower Manya District could be transformed into one of the best in the region in the next few years.