THE government is to pay GH¢1,155,641 million on 1,066 road projects awarded on contract this year to cover the period 2010.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, made this known when he addressed the closing ceremony of a three-day retreat organised by the ministry for road engineers, technicians and other technocrats in the road sector at Koforidua.
He said the numerous projects with such a huge sum were a cause of worry to the government since the budget could not contain it.
Mr Gidisu, therefore, asked road engineers and others responsible for the award of contracts to come out with a more prudent and rationalised programme which could be implemented within the current constraints of the budget.
According to Mr Gidisu, his office had been informed that a number of officers in the regions and some at the head office of the ministry and its agencies had formed companies to which lucrative contracts were awarded and payments effected, adding that the implications of such actions were serious and contrary to the conduct of public servants.
He therefore warned public officers involved in the practice to immediately put a stop to it because the names of some of them and their companies had been made available to the national security apparatus.
Mr Gidisu also advised road engineers not to allow political leanings and trappings to influence their conduct at their workplace adding that their management and engineering decisions and implementation strategies should be devoid of any political prejudices.
The minister further told them to be judicious and transparent at all times in the course of their deliberations.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, asked the engineers to give attention to feeder roads to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs from the rural areas to the urban centres.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
ZOOMLION TRAINS 100 SANITATION GUARDS (PAGE 29)
SANITATION giant, Zoomlion, in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, has organised a four-day training programme for 100 sanitation guards in the Kumasi Metropolis.
The programme was to sharpen their skills in the implementation of sanitation programmes in the metropolis.
The guards, who constituted part of the National Youth Employment programme (NYEP), have been assisting environmental health officers in carrying out their duties.
The participants were the first batch of 370 sanitation guards who would be trained by Zoomlion in the Ashanti Region by the middle of June, this year, to enable them to play significant roles in environmental sanitation in the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
Under the decentralisation programme, environmental health officers have been posted to the MMDAs but their number is not adequate to meet the challenges in their respective areas.
The need to recruit sanitation guards to complement the efforts of the environmental officers therefore was crucial in order to meet the sanitation goals of the ministry.
After successfully piloting the programme at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, it was replicated in other areas.
Among the topics treated at the workshop were duties of the environmental and sanitation unit, public education on sanitation, detection of nuisance, and structures within the environmental and sanitation unit.
In an interview after the opening ceremony, the Zonal Coordinator of Zoomlion in Kumasi, Mr S. Gyekye-Darko, said the sanitation guards were permanently employed and as such they needed all the support to enable them to improve their performance.
He also stressed the need to intensify public education on sanitation because of the apathetic attitude of many of the people to matters relating to sanitation.
Mr Gyekye-Darko said the services of the sanitation guards were tailored to suit areas such as churches, lorry stations and schools.
He described the whole programme as one of the best to happen to the MMDAs, because apart from helping to make the environment clean, it would also serve as an employment avenue for the youth.
Resource persons for the workshop were drawn from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Other officials who participated in the workshop included Mr J.Y. Donkor, the Metropolitan Environmental Health Officer, and Mr Sekyere Boateng, the Ashanti West Zonal Officer for Zoomlion, who is also a postgraduate student at the KNUST.
The programme was to sharpen their skills in the implementation of sanitation programmes in the metropolis.
The guards, who constituted part of the National Youth Employment programme (NYEP), have been assisting environmental health officers in carrying out their duties.
The participants were the first batch of 370 sanitation guards who would be trained by Zoomlion in the Ashanti Region by the middle of June, this year, to enable them to play significant roles in environmental sanitation in the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
Under the decentralisation programme, environmental health officers have been posted to the MMDAs but their number is not adequate to meet the challenges in their respective areas.
The need to recruit sanitation guards to complement the efforts of the environmental officers therefore was crucial in order to meet the sanitation goals of the ministry.
After successfully piloting the programme at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, it was replicated in other areas.
Among the topics treated at the workshop were duties of the environmental and sanitation unit, public education on sanitation, detection of nuisance, and structures within the environmental and sanitation unit.
In an interview after the opening ceremony, the Zonal Coordinator of Zoomlion in Kumasi, Mr S. Gyekye-Darko, said the sanitation guards were permanently employed and as such they needed all the support to enable them to improve their performance.
He also stressed the need to intensify public education on sanitation because of the apathetic attitude of many of the people to matters relating to sanitation.
Mr Gyekye-Darko said the services of the sanitation guards were tailored to suit areas such as churches, lorry stations and schools.
He described the whole programme as one of the best to happen to the MMDAs, because apart from helping to make the environment clean, it would also serve as an employment avenue for the youth.
Resource persons for the workshop were drawn from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Other officials who participated in the workshop included Mr J.Y. Donkor, the Metropolitan Environmental Health Officer, and Mr Sekyere Boateng, the Ashanti West Zonal Officer for Zoomlion, who is also a postgraduate student at the KNUST.
ENGINEERS ASKED TO BE PRUDENT (PAGE 43)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has urged road engineers and other technocrats to be prudent in their activities because of the huge commitment of the country’s financial resources to road construction and its rehabilitation.
He said road projects that had been charged to the Consolidated Fund were in excess of GH¢800 million over a period of three years (2009-2011), while the Road Fund had also been over-committed to the extent that road maintenance activities would be jeopardised until the end of the year.
The Vice-President expressed these concerns when he addressed a road sub-sector retreat organised by the Ministry of Roads and Highways at Koforidua last Thursday.
The three-day event, on the theme “Towards Better Roads Management”, was attended by road engineers, technicians and technocrats drawn from all parts of the country, as well as some regional directors of the Road Safety Commission and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
It was to take stock of the sector’s activities and plan for the future with the view to ensuring prudent management.
According to the Vice-President, the seriousness of the situation was that the over-commitment of financial resources had on two occasions compelled the authorities to contract funds from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), which delayed the completion of road projects.
He said apart from that, some of the contracts were poorly executed, abandoned or awarded to contractors who, under normal circumstances, could not execute such projects and therefore, had to sell them to competent ones.
Mr Mahama, who said all those factors had adversely affected road construction and rehabilitation, therefore, asked all those responsible for such malpractices to mend their ways.
The Vice-President said the public expected managers of roads to ensure that roads were well constructed to reduce traffic congestion and also, with the proper functioning of traffic lights, prevent motor accidents and that all these must be done within budgetary allocation.
Referring to the recent postings and changes in positions of personnel within the Ministry of Roads and Highways, its agencies and department, Mr Mahama stated that the changes were properly carried out to ensure good management.
He expressed the hope that the participants would come out with ideas that would further improve the road sector.
The Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Joe Gidisu, said the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had committed itself to over 300 projects to be executed from 2009 to 2011, explaining that the projects were estimated at GH¢833,000,819 to be paid from the Consolidated Fund while the budget for their execution was GH¢51,955,605.
Mr Gidisu, who described the situation as worrying, said similarly the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) also had committed itself to certain projects over the same period, which had the value of GH¢253,101,600 with a budget of GH¢11,700,000 in 2009, while the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) also had a budget of GH¢10,363,113 for commitments of GH¢59,540,000, adding that the budget for 2009 was exhausted in the first quarter of the year.
With regard to the projects, the minister stated that the GHA had committed itself to 322 projects, DFR 541 and the DUR 203, adding that if the ministry was to improve the performance of the sector, there was the need to rationalise dormant and non-performing projects, while some of them would have to be re-packaged or terminated.
Mr Gidisu also told the gathering that the government had recently negotiated US$225 million for the transport sector and that the implementation of the Awoshie-Pokuase Integrated Project was expected to be negotiated, while ongoing projects such as the urban transport and others funded by the African Development Bank, BADEA and the Saudi Fund had been unduly delayed.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Alex Twumasi, said since the global economic recession was likely to affect the funding of road projects in the country, it was, therefore, necessary for technocrats in the road industry to ensure that the scarce financial resources available would be judiciously utilised.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who chaired the function, briefed the gathering on the state of the road network in the region and said while some were good, others especially feeder roads, were bad and called for more attention to be paid to them.
He also called for the speedy rehabilitation of the Apedwa-Nsawam stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway so that motorists from the Kumasi who had now resorted to going by the Mamfe-Pantang Highway would revert to the normal route to save time.
He said road projects that had been charged to the Consolidated Fund were in excess of GH¢800 million over a period of three years (2009-2011), while the Road Fund had also been over-committed to the extent that road maintenance activities would be jeopardised until the end of the year.
The Vice-President expressed these concerns when he addressed a road sub-sector retreat organised by the Ministry of Roads and Highways at Koforidua last Thursday.
The three-day event, on the theme “Towards Better Roads Management”, was attended by road engineers, technicians and technocrats drawn from all parts of the country, as well as some regional directors of the Road Safety Commission and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
It was to take stock of the sector’s activities and plan for the future with the view to ensuring prudent management.
According to the Vice-President, the seriousness of the situation was that the over-commitment of financial resources had on two occasions compelled the authorities to contract funds from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), which delayed the completion of road projects.
He said apart from that, some of the contracts were poorly executed, abandoned or awarded to contractors who, under normal circumstances, could not execute such projects and therefore, had to sell them to competent ones.
Mr Mahama, who said all those factors had adversely affected road construction and rehabilitation, therefore, asked all those responsible for such malpractices to mend their ways.
The Vice-President said the public expected managers of roads to ensure that roads were well constructed to reduce traffic congestion and also, with the proper functioning of traffic lights, prevent motor accidents and that all these must be done within budgetary allocation.
Referring to the recent postings and changes in positions of personnel within the Ministry of Roads and Highways, its agencies and department, Mr Mahama stated that the changes were properly carried out to ensure good management.
He expressed the hope that the participants would come out with ideas that would further improve the road sector.
The Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Joe Gidisu, said the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had committed itself to over 300 projects to be executed from 2009 to 2011, explaining that the projects were estimated at GH¢833,000,819 to be paid from the Consolidated Fund while the budget for their execution was GH¢51,955,605.
Mr Gidisu, who described the situation as worrying, said similarly the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) also had committed itself to certain projects over the same period, which had the value of GH¢253,101,600 with a budget of GH¢11,700,000 in 2009, while the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) also had a budget of GH¢10,363,113 for commitments of GH¢59,540,000, adding that the budget for 2009 was exhausted in the first quarter of the year.
With regard to the projects, the minister stated that the GHA had committed itself to 322 projects, DFR 541 and the DUR 203, adding that if the ministry was to improve the performance of the sector, there was the need to rationalise dormant and non-performing projects, while some of them would have to be re-packaged or terminated.
Mr Gidisu also told the gathering that the government had recently negotiated US$225 million for the transport sector and that the implementation of the Awoshie-Pokuase Integrated Project was expected to be negotiated, while ongoing projects such as the urban transport and others funded by the African Development Bank, BADEA and the Saudi Fund had been unduly delayed.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Alex Twumasi, said since the global economic recession was likely to affect the funding of road projects in the country, it was, therefore, necessary for technocrats in the road industry to ensure that the scarce financial resources available would be judiciously utilised.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who chaired the function, briefed the gathering on the state of the road network in the region and said while some were good, others especially feeder roads, were bad and called for more attention to be paid to them.
He also called for the speedy rehabilitation of the Apedwa-Nsawam stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway so that motorists from the Kumasi who had now resorted to going by the Mamfe-Pantang Highway would revert to the normal route to save time.
K'DUA HOSTS RAVI FESTIVAL (PAGE 20)
A FESTIVAL to showcase the activities of community-based organisations (CBOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was held at the Mac Dic Royal Plaza in Koforidua at the weekend.
The festival, on the theme: “Citizen government engagement — A key to sustainable grassroots development”, was organised by Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), an NGO, with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID).
The event was to enable the CBOs and the NGOs to share ideas with a view to improving their performances to enhance the living standards of people benefiting from their services.
Some of the activities were in the areas of child labour, environmental cleanliness, HIV/AIDS awareness, inability of children to be enrolled in school, women empowerment in various fields such as poverty alleviation, human rights, particularly the right of women to inherit property, domestic violence and income generation ventures.
In an address, the Project Co-ordinator of RAVI, Mr Sam Ocran, said the decision to hold the festival was to offer the grassroot groups the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from the others for the necessary support.
He stated that his outfit had assisted its partners (CBOs) to promote the rights of the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged sections of the society such as women, children and disabled so that they would be able to enjoy life.
RAVI, he said, had also supported the CBOs and local NGOs to engage the district assemblies in development issues such as education, health, water and sanitation, as well as assisting civil society to deal with negative cultural practices, adding that in all, 104 CBOs and 34 NGOs from all parts of the country had been involved.
Addressing the participants, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would continue to provide a favourable atmosphere for what he termed “government and citizens” engagement, as well as encourage rights-based civil society activities.
He added that provision had been made in that respect in the NDC manifesto.
He said they included transparency of the government in decision-making, accountability in both public and private sectors, public participation in decision-making, decentralisation, devolution of power and observation of both rights and responsibilities.
The implementation of those provisions, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated, was to buttress the fact that governance must necessarily focus on strengthening the voice and the capacity of the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
He expressed his appreciation at the efforts being made by the CBOs and the NGOs to enhance the capacity of the people, and called on them to also assist in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
The festival, on the theme: “Citizen government engagement — A key to sustainable grassroots development”, was organised by Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), an NGO, with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID).
The event was to enable the CBOs and the NGOs to share ideas with a view to improving their performances to enhance the living standards of people benefiting from their services.
Some of the activities were in the areas of child labour, environmental cleanliness, HIV/AIDS awareness, inability of children to be enrolled in school, women empowerment in various fields such as poverty alleviation, human rights, particularly the right of women to inherit property, domestic violence and income generation ventures.
In an address, the Project Co-ordinator of RAVI, Mr Sam Ocran, said the decision to hold the festival was to offer the grassroot groups the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from the others for the necessary support.
He stated that his outfit had assisted its partners (CBOs) to promote the rights of the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged sections of the society such as women, children and disabled so that they would be able to enjoy life.
RAVI, he said, had also supported the CBOs and local NGOs to engage the district assemblies in development issues such as education, health, water and sanitation, as well as assisting civil society to deal with negative cultural practices, adding that in all, 104 CBOs and 34 NGOs from all parts of the country had been involved.
Addressing the participants, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would continue to provide a favourable atmosphere for what he termed “government and citizens” engagement, as well as encourage rights-based civil society activities.
He added that provision had been made in that respect in the NDC manifesto.
He said they included transparency of the government in decision-making, accountability in both public and private sectors, public participation in decision-making, decentralisation, devolution of power and observation of both rights and responsibilities.
The implementation of those provisions, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated, was to buttress the fact that governance must necessarily focus on strengthening the voice and the capacity of the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
He expressed his appreciation at the efforts being made by the CBOs and the NGOs to enhance the capacity of the people, and called on them to also assist in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
ADDRESS PERTINENT NATIONAL ISSUES...Akuapem Presbytery urges govt (PAGE 20)
THE Akuapem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) in the Eastern Region has issued a seven-point communiqué calling on the government to address some challenges facing the region and the country as a whole.
A copy of the communiqué, which was issued at the end of its 80th annual Presbytery meeting at Koforidua, was handed over to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.
The communiqué specifically dealt with areas such as road accidents, armed robbery, rehabilitation of the Aburi-Nsawam road and activities of Internet operators, all in the region, as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), education, the National Youth Employment Programme and polarisation of the country.
The communiqué, which was presented by a three-member delegation comprising Rev Godfred Bamfo, pastor in charge of the Koforidua District; Rev Asiamah Koranteng, who heads the church at Abiriw, and Mr George Larbi, the Public Relations Officer of the Presbytery, stated that the church was worried about the high rate of armed robbery and motor accidents in the region.
It, therefore, urged the regional minister to do his best to ensure that the necessary steps were taken to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
On education, the Presbytery commended the government for increasing the Capitation Grant and its decision to extend the School Feeding Programme to more schools, but called on the Minister of Education to have a second look at its decision to ban extra classes and hold consultations with all stakeholders before taking that decision.
The communiqué also advised the government to tread cautiously in its attempt to revise the number of years to be spent in the senior high school, adding that reducing it from four years to three might create unnecessary inconvenience for the students which could have some negative impact on their academic progress.
It commended the government for continuing with the NHIS and promised to include public education on the scheme as part of its evangelistic activities to rope more people into the scheme.
With regard to the economy, the communiqué expressed its satisfaction with the manner the government had handled it in terms of the global economic crunch but suggested that efforts should be made to address rising inflation and interest rates in the country.
It further called on the government to unite the country, since it had been polarised after the 2008 general election.
The communiqué urged the media not to inflame passion and children should be prevented from using the Internet for pornography.
The regional minister thanked the Presbytery for concerning itself with such pertinent issues and said the communiqué, which would be given to the government, would also be used by the Regional Co-ordinating Council as a working document.
A copy of the communiqué, which was issued at the end of its 80th annual Presbytery meeting at Koforidua, was handed over to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.
The communiqué specifically dealt with areas such as road accidents, armed robbery, rehabilitation of the Aburi-Nsawam road and activities of Internet operators, all in the region, as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), education, the National Youth Employment Programme and polarisation of the country.
The communiqué, which was presented by a three-member delegation comprising Rev Godfred Bamfo, pastor in charge of the Koforidua District; Rev Asiamah Koranteng, who heads the church at Abiriw, and Mr George Larbi, the Public Relations Officer of the Presbytery, stated that the church was worried about the high rate of armed robbery and motor accidents in the region.
It, therefore, urged the regional minister to do his best to ensure that the necessary steps were taken to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
On education, the Presbytery commended the government for increasing the Capitation Grant and its decision to extend the School Feeding Programme to more schools, but called on the Minister of Education to have a second look at its decision to ban extra classes and hold consultations with all stakeholders before taking that decision.
The communiqué also advised the government to tread cautiously in its attempt to revise the number of years to be spent in the senior high school, adding that reducing it from four years to three might create unnecessary inconvenience for the students which could have some negative impact on their academic progress.
It commended the government for continuing with the NHIS and promised to include public education on the scheme as part of its evangelistic activities to rope more people into the scheme.
With regard to the economy, the communiqué expressed its satisfaction with the manner the government had handled it in terms of the global economic crunch but suggested that efforts should be made to address rising inflation and interest rates in the country.
It further called on the government to unite the country, since it had been polarised after the 2008 general election.
The communiqué urged the media not to inflame passion and children should be prevented from using the Internet for pornography.
The regional minister thanked the Presbytery for concerning itself with such pertinent issues and said the communiqué, which would be given to the government, would also be used by the Regional Co-ordinating Council as a working document.
TRANSFORMATION OF ASUOGYAMAN TAKES OFF (PAGE 20)
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.
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.
KOFORIDUA WATER SHORTANGE TO END DEC (BACK PAGE)
THE perennial shortage of water in Koforidua and other parts of the Eastern Region will come to an end by December, this year.
Under the Koforidua Water Project which is now 85 per cent complete, 3.5 million gallons of water would be pumped per day from the Volta Lake near Asesewa in the Upper Manya District to augment the 1.2 million gallons currently being drawn from the Densu and Suyhen rivers.
The project is being funded by the Belgian Government and executed by Denys Corporation also of Belgium.
Currently the first phase, which involve the construction of a treatment plant at Bukornor Junction and the laying of the main pipeline from the Volta Lake, has been completed while the distribution lines at Koforidua and booster stations along the main pipeline are being done.
According to Mr Okomen Mensah of Ekobil Consult, the consultancy firm of the project, Koforidua would definitely be supplied with water from the lake in December this year.
Mr Mensah, who was briefing the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at the treatment site at Bukornor Junction, said the project, which started in May last year, was six months ahead of schedule.
He said the third phase of extending the project to New Tafo and Osiem, both in the East Akyem Municipality, would commence in January next year.
The Regional Minister, who was at the sites of the treatment plant and the intake and distribution lines, expressed his satisfaction with the pace of work.
He, however, asked the company to speed up the process of compensation to farmers whose lands were affected.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo also asked Denys Corporation to see how best it could provide a social amenity such as a school for the people at Bukornor junction to serve as a souvenir for the company in the area.
The Regional Minister earlier addressed workers of Aqua Vittens Rand, which is responsible for urban water, and gave them the assurance that his outfit would support it to make good drinking water available for the people.
That was after the Distribution Manager, Mr Asante Ansah, and other top officials had briefed the Regional Minister on the water supply situation in the region.
According to them, the company was facing a lot of challenges, especially contamination of water from the Birim River, which supplies water for Anyinam and its environs, due to the activities of illegal gold miners, as well as old pipelines in some areas that had not been rehabilitated for a long period.
Under the Koforidua Water Project which is now 85 per cent complete, 3.5 million gallons of water would be pumped per day from the Volta Lake near Asesewa in the Upper Manya District to augment the 1.2 million gallons currently being drawn from the Densu and Suyhen rivers.
The project is being funded by the Belgian Government and executed by Denys Corporation also of Belgium.
Currently the first phase, which involve the construction of a treatment plant at Bukornor Junction and the laying of the main pipeline from the Volta Lake, has been completed while the distribution lines at Koforidua and booster stations along the main pipeline are being done.
According to Mr Okomen Mensah of Ekobil Consult, the consultancy firm of the project, Koforidua would definitely be supplied with water from the lake in December this year.
Mr Mensah, who was briefing the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at the treatment site at Bukornor Junction, said the project, which started in May last year, was six months ahead of schedule.
He said the third phase of extending the project to New Tafo and Osiem, both in the East Akyem Municipality, would commence in January next year.
The Regional Minister, who was at the sites of the treatment plant and the intake and distribution lines, expressed his satisfaction with the pace of work.
He, however, asked the company to speed up the process of compensation to farmers whose lands were affected.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo also asked Denys Corporation to see how best it could provide a social amenity such as a school for the people at Bukornor junction to serve as a souvenir for the company in the area.
The Regional Minister earlier addressed workers of Aqua Vittens Rand, which is responsible for urban water, and gave them the assurance that his outfit would support it to make good drinking water available for the people.
That was after the Distribution Manager, Mr Asante Ansah, and other top officials had briefed the Regional Minister on the water supply situation in the region.
According to them, the company was facing a lot of challenges, especially contamination of water from the Birim River, which supplies water for Anyinam and its environs, due to the activities of illegal gold miners, as well as old pipelines in some areas that had not been rehabilitated for a long period.
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