TOWN HALL MEETING AT KWABRE EAST MUNICIPAL
INTRODUCTION
The Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Thursday 28th June, 2018 held one of its Town Hall Meetings at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Municipal in the Ashanti Region. This was after the 2018 series of the Town Hall Meetings was launched in the Volta Region to commence the engagement of citizens in decision making.
OBJECTIVE
The programme which brings stakeholders in our communities together is aimed at deepening the governance system at the grassroots level where the indigenes are considered in collaborative decision making and suggestion in policy affairs. The goal is to gain feedback and interact through the local government structure with citizens on ways, how, why and other questions on policies that affect the district and nation as a whole.
This forum, assist indigence to bring up crucial happenings in their local areas and suggest ways of solving such problems in a combined effort of both state and individual in development and deepening democracy.
ATTENDANCE
The meeting was well attended by residents of Mamponteng and its surrounding towns. It brought together people from Mamponteng, Aboaso, Ahwiaa, Ahwiaa Overseas, Ntonso, Asonomaso and other towns. The invitation also covered civil societies, Taxi Drivers Association, market women, clergy, traditional authorities, staff and Heads of Departments in the Assembly, Honourable Assembly members, students from public senior high schools and individuals.
ADDRESS BY MR. OHENE BENIN (MINISTRY OF INFORMATION REPRESENTATIVE)
The Human Resource Manager for the Ministry of Information, Mr. Ohene Benin, in his address stated that the objective of Town Hall Meeting is to make governance transparent to the citizens and solicit their views on policy and programmes of government.
He said it is the wish of government to partner and include all alternative views to determine tailored policies that benefit the society and therefore urged all to support and participate in deliberations to have good results oriented solutions to problems of society.
PURPOSE OF GATHERING
The Municipal Information Officer, Mr. Nicholas Obeng Twum also gave the purpose of gathering and the need for everyone to take the opportunity to voice their thoughts, suggestions and questions on matters under discussion on both natural and local or municipal issues. He gave a brief history of the Town Hall Meetings and how various governments engage the citizenry on issues of national concern.
AWARENESS
The Town Hall Meeting was advertised on several platforms. A visit to some churches particularly, in Mamponteng and its environs to explain the rationale behind the program and the need to attend.
The Information van was also used in whistle stop announcement and community Information centers were used including social media especially facebook and whatsapp groups of clergy, imams, staff and others. All public senior high schools were visited and interactions were made with headmasters/headmistresses including private ones.
A big banner was hoisted at the farecourt of the municipal assembly block and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, the premises for the event to also create awareness on the impending event.
Invitation letters were also sent to all the 42 Assembly members in the Municipality as well as civil society groups, selected schools, opinion leaders, Member of parliament heads of decentalised departments and some selected chiefs.
PRESENTATION ON FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The Municipal Information Officer again gave a presentation on the free senior high school policy of government. He said a total of 470,000 children benefited from the program in 2017 nationwide. He said the priority of government is to make education accessible and affordable to all children. He talked of all components of the free senior high school policy and projection for future years. He said the policy saw a slight increase on enrolment in the 2016/2017 first year students across the district at 3,187 whilst 2017/2018 first year student enrolment was 4,595, making it an increase of 32.2 %( 1,045).
PRESENTATION BY MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The second presentation was done by the Hon. Municipal Chief Executive for Kwabre East Municipal Assembly, Hon. Nana Osei Asibey Bonsu.
His address covered all aspects of human life by literally giving the state of affairs in the Municipality.
LOCAL GOVERNANCE
He revealed that the Municipality was part of the 28 districts that were elevated to Municipal status by the NPP Government. The Municipal Assembly was colourfully inaugurated on 15th March 2018.
He added that the Municipal Assembly has been able to strengthen the Six (6) Town and Area Councils with Staff from the Department of Community Development as Secretaries. About 15 revenue items have been ceded to the councils and revenue collected shared equally (50%) with the Assembly.
The Municipal Assembly has also procured motorbikes for the Assembly members to facilitate their movement and monitoring of development projects and programmes.
SECURITY
Hon. Bonsu gave a picture of the Municipality in relation to security issue. He was very much worried about the riotings that took place in three of the public senior high schools in the Municipality. These riotings took place at Kofi Agyei SHS, SIMMS SHS and Gyaman Pensan SHS. Investigations were conducted in to the causes of the riots had have been addressed accordingly.
He also bemoaned the clashes that occurred in some of the communities in the municipal. Notable among them was the clash that occurred at Ahwiaa between the youth of Asanteline and Zongo youth; and also the clash at Ntonso which is also between the Ntonso community and the Ntonso Saviour Church which still remains unresolved at the law court.
Another issue of concern for the Assembly also has to do with the consumption of marijuana, tramadol and other hard drugs by the youth in the municipality.
However, the Municipal Security Committee is on top of issues trying to fix all the security concerns in the municipal assembly.
AGRICULTURE
The MCE again commented on the state of affairs in the agriculture sector. He revealed that the Assembly was also benefitting from the various agricultural policies of the government though there have been some few challenges. He noted that some of the policies by the government in the sector include the Planting for food and jobs, Modernisation of Agriculture and Planting for export and rural development.
He bemoaned the infestation of fall army worms that hit the sector some few months ago. He revealed that about 102 acre farm lands were affected, resulting in low yield of farm crops. A combined team of NADMO, Agriculture and Environmental Health Officers assisted 41 farmers to spray their farms.
However, government improved the seedlings of maize, rice, tomatoes and pepper supplied in 2017 and about 109 farmers in the municipal have also benefited from fertilizers supplied by the Government of Ghana to assist in their production.
ONE DISTRICT ONE FACTORY
MCE revealed that two companies have been authorized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to set up factories at Kasaam and Asonomanso. They will both manufacture soap and detergents.
Lands have also been secured at Wadie Adwumakase, Adense, Dumanafo and Abira hoping that soon they will also have factories set up to give employment to the many youth in the municipal.
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY (PWDS)
The government also released a total of GH¢168, 557. 82, being the share of people with disabilities in the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2017. The funds will take care of their medicals, education, cash for business and items for business development. Some of the items they received included sewing machines, deep freezers, hair dressing kits, block molding machines, fufu pounding machines, popcorn machines and wheel barrows. The next batch of procurement and disbursement will be in August 2018.
In business enterprise development (employment creation), the Assembly has trained 20 female farmers in soap making by the Department of Agriculture. Thirty nine other people have also been trained in soap and detergent making by the Business Advisory Centre (BAC). The others are 19 people trained in beads making, 23 people trained in soya bean processing and 28 apprentices trained in workshop management
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION
MCE again revealed that an Italian Waste Management Company, Messrs W.A Label Technology (LABELTECH visited the Municipality on 11-15 June 2018 and has an intent to establish a waste – energy project – Solid waste valorisation system to process solid waste into fertilizer, gas and electricity. Feasibility studies and preparation of MOU is in progress.
A contract has also been signed with a local waste management company, Messrs loggist Ghana to operate door- to- door refuse collection.
TOURISM AND CULTURE
In pursuant of its mandate to promote culture and tourism, the Assembly in collaboration with Nananom has decided to institute an annual Kwabre Anwenie Festival to promote and market carving, Adinkra and kente weaving in the Municipal. The celebration will be held in the last week of September 2018.
ROAD SAFETY
A memorandum of understanding has also been signed with Road Safety Management Service Limited to pool resources together to ensure that vehicles are parked at designated parking spaces along the streets. Vehicles of defaulters will be clamped and towed and fined.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
Hon. Bonsu revealed that all major feeder roads were reshaped from October 2017 – March 2018 at cost of GH¢1, 71723.00. Measurement and estimates of major roads and Mamponteng Town roads have been taken and submitted to the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Rehabilitation works on Sakra Wonoo and Asonomaso are expected to start in July 2018.
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
On the health sector, these are the revelations Hon. Bonsu made:
- Completion of CHPS Compound at Kasaam – GH¢ 234,000 (Finishing)
- Completion of CHPS compound at Truba – GH¢ 199,979.00 (Finishing)
Supply of Hospital Beds and Chairs for Mamponteng Health Centre (Tendering)
- Completion of CHPs compound at Bosore – Finishing stage.
CONCERNS
Many concerns were raised by the participants. The concerns raised bothered on education, sanitation, health, good governance, roads employment and others.
KEY POINTS RAISED BY PARTICIPANTS
- Someone wanted to know why the Assembly has refused to construct a speed rump on the Fawoade-Mamponteng stretch of road. He said due to that, most people especially children have been knocked down, maimed or killed by speeding drivers.
He therefore appealed that the Assembly as a matter of urgency, do something about it.
Response: Correspondences have been sent to the Ghana Highway Authority, Feeder and Urban Roads on the matter. The construction of speed rumps on major roads is beyond the level of the municipal assembly. However, follow-ups will be intensified to ensure that the concerns are addressed.
- Another contentions issue that occurred at the venue was the poor reception and irresponsible behavior of some nurses at the Mamponteng Health Centre. A student from SIMMS SHS, recounted how they had to suffer at the center when they had to send one of their colleagues to the center when she had taken ill. She added that they were also made to pay an amount of GH¢10.00 which was not backed by receipt. The response and cheers that followed her comments was an indication that they have also heard or have been victims to that practice.
Response: The Municipal Health Director, Dr. Somuah replied that he will liaise with the Assembly to form a committee to investigate the matter and punish all those who will be found culpable. He therefore appealed to the general public to always report bad and unprofessional behavior of health professionals to authorities. Dr. Somuah added that his office is wide opened for concerns of such matters all in the interest of the Municipality.
- The poor sanitation issue in the Municipality was also a concern for most participants. Mention was made about the heaps of refuse at Ahwiaa, Asenua and Mamponteng. They re-echoed that the presence of the refuse is breeding mosquitoes and house flies which are also causing other diseases.
The refuse at Ahwiaa was noted was closer to homes, thus breeding mosquitoes and producing a bad stench which makes it difficult for residents to breath. Another one also at Ahwiaa was closer to a school which was also affecting teaching and learning.
Response: The Municipal Chief Executive responded that he has prioritized sanitation and was working around the clock to solve all sanitation issues in the municipal. He added that, there was a heap at the various disposable sites because they had issues with the final refuse sites so the trucks could not come for them.
He assured that the matter has been resolved so the trucks will now be going round the communities to pick them all.
Hon. Asibey Bonsu also added that the cost of collecting refuse is very exorbitant so they must practice cleanliness wherever they find themselves. He also called for separation of refuse especially at homes to make the disposal simple.
HUMAN RESOURCE
The programme was attended by the Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Nana Osei Asibey Bonsu, Municipal Coordinating Director, Rev. Peter Antwi Boasiako, HRM-MOI, Mr. Ohene Benin, representative from Regional Information Office, Mr. George Wiafe, Presiding Member, Hon. George Oppong, and key management officers of the Assembly.
CHALLENGES
- Funds for the programme were not readily available so the Assembly was called upon to help.
2. Due to time constraint, some people were prevented from asking their questions
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