The Ekumfi District was established in 2012 by L.I. 2170. The district capital is Essarkyir and is one of the 20 districts in the Central Region.

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NEWS ARCHIVE 2010 - 14

EKUMFI: Prospects of Ekumfi District

The Ekumfi District was established in 2012 by L.I. 2170. The district capital is Essarkyir and is one of the 20 districts in the Central Region.


Date Created : 5/9/2014 10:01:42 AM : Story Author : GhanaDistrict.Com

The Ekumfi District was established in 2012 by L.I. 2170. The district capital is Essarkyir and is one of the 20 districts in the Central Region.

Carved out of the Mfantseman District, it is a first-class investment and tourism destination.

Structure
The assembly has one constituency with 26 electoral areas and 26 Unit Committees and its assembly is made up of 26 elected members and nine government appointees.

The district chief executive and the Member of Parliament are members of the assembly.

It has eight sub-districts made up of one town council and seven area councils comprising Otuam, Narkwa, Eyisam, Essarkyir, Ekrawfo, Abiram, Assafa and Srafa.


Location
The district is located along the Atlantic coastline of the Central Region and is bounded to the west by the Mfantsemen District, to the north by the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District, to the east by the Gomoa West District and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea.
Population

The district has a projected total population of 68,419 (in 2013) made up of 32,481 males and 35,578 females. The annual population growth rate of the district is 2.8 per cent. There are 55 communities in the district with Narkwa being the most densely populated.

Economy

Pineapple production is the main farming activity in the district. However, other agricultural products such as vegetables and fruits are also produced on a large scale there. Fishing is another economic activity carried out by the people, especially those along the coastal areas. Salt mining is done on a small scale at Suprodo and Narkwa.

Although there are lagoons in the district, the potential of the salt industry is yet to be fully tapped. Trading, which is an important economic activity, is carried out virtually in every area in the district with Essuehyia as a major focal point and involves agricultural products and other merchandise.

There are large deposits of quality clay for the construction industry and a clay factory located at Ekumfi Swedru, which produces clay products for the housing industry.

Currently, demand for housing, particularly by workers in the district capital, is on the increase. There is also high demand for office accommodation for institutions which will very soon locate in the district.


Tourism
The district abounds in several tourists attractions, prominent among them being the undeveloped beaches located at Narkwa, Asafa, Arkra and Amisano. These beautiful beaches are yet to be developed to attract both foreign and local tourists to boost local economic development for job and wealth creation.

Health

The district is yet to construct a district hospital. It has the following facilities:  a health centre at Essuehyia and Otuam with Community Health Based Planning System (CHPS) compounds at Nanaben, Narkwa, Edumafa, Ekumpoano, Srafa Kokodo, Eyisam and Immuna.

There are two private health facilities: the Bethel Homeopathic Clinic at Essuehyia and the God’s Gift Maternity Home.
Water

Most of the communities in the southern part of the district have pipe-borne water from the Essarkyir water pumping station. Water, however, could not be extended to the communities in the northern sector due to broken-down pipes, which occurred during the construction of the Essarkyir-Ajumako road. The second phase of the Essarkyir water project will target all the communities in the northern part of the district.


Focus areas
In 2013, the assembly focused on improving infrastructure for teachers through the construction of teachers’ quarters. Provision was made for teaching aids and scholarships for students at all levels. The only second cycle institution in the district is the Essarkyir Ahmadiyya Senior High School.


Revenue generation
Revenue generation efforts will be improved through a computerised data collection system and provision of incentives for revenue collectors. Regular meetings would be held and targets set for collectors. Monitoring and supervision will also be strengthened. Investment in income generating projects such as the improvement of the lorry park at Essuehyia will be undertaken to improve the locally generated revenue of the district.


MCE

The District Chief Executive, Mr Ibrahim Kweku Dawson, told the Daily Graphic that his administration was poised to make the district one of the best in the region and the country.

Mr Dawson said although young, the district would strive to compete with the older districts in terms of revenue mobilisation and generation and not to pin its hopes on the District Assemblies Common Fund.

He said the Japanese government, through JICA, had made available grant to pineapple farmers to support them to increase their yield and income.

He expressed the hope that with the support of members of the assembly and all stakeholders, the district would implement decisions which would improve the well-being  of the people and the development of the area.

graphic.com.gh