ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HON. APRAKU TANOH, AT THE 2ND  ORDINARY MEETING OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE FOURTH ASSEMBLY HELD ON TUESDAY, 17TH JANUARY, 2006 AT THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HALL, DROBO

HON. PRESIDING MEMBER
HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
JAMAN SOUTH CONSTITUENCY
HON. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS                   
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS
LADIES & GENTLEMEN

I deem it a great pleasure welcoming all of you to our second ordinary meeting. We should all be grateful to the Almighty God for making it possible for us to gather again to think and strategize on how best we can improve the living standards of the people in our District. I sincerely believe that with unity and sense of purpose, we shall be able to surmount all the problems facing us as a people in the coming years.

Hon. Members, without much ado, I would like to highlight on certain activities and events as well as proposals of the office over the last four months and the immediate future.

Security
The security situation in the District has generally been calm. However, the District Security Council has been grappling with pett  security issues such as smoking of Indian hemp among the youth, use of unlincensed motor bikes, smulggling and illegal dnainsaw operations. Other security handicaps include indiscipline by motorists, threat of bush-fires and land litigation issues.

ECONOMIC
Internally Generated Fund
Hon. Members, an amount of Six Hundred Million Cedis (6,000,000.00) was estimated to be generated internally for 2005 fiscal year. Out of this figure Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty - Eight Cedis (¢425,125,48.00) has been collected as at 30th November, 2005. Even though this figure is encouraging, there is still more room for improvement. To achieve our set target, some measures have been taken.

These include:

Installation Of Block Machine
It is believed that when work is actually started, the venture would provide jobs for the youth/ increase our revenue and above all arrest the use of substandard blocks by our contractors.  This is because all our contractors would be tied, as a condition, for working with us, to the use of OUR,blocks for our projects.

Repair of Zetor Tractor and Purchase of corn Sheller
Springing from the above, and to add impetus to our revenue drive, the Zetor Tractor had been repaired to deliver blocks to the site of customers. We are also in the process of procuring a corn Sheller which would be attached to the tractor to help maize farmers to prepare their maize for marketing and also raise revenue for the Assembly.

• Motivation of Revenue Collectors
• Formation of Revenue Supervisory Committee
• Erection of Revenue Barriers
• Reshuffling of Revenue Staff

Report From Nana Adinkrah Kosopre Market Committee
The Committee that was established to ascertain the relationship between District Assemblies and their paramountdes in respect of proceeds from the operations of the markets has submitted its findings. The report shall be read to you for discussion.

Works
Since my assumption of duty in August, 2005 the Assembly has been managing old contracts-that were awarded by my predecessor until a few weeks ago when we initiated the process to award the following new projects.

• Construction of 3 No. Six-Unit Classroom Blocks plus office, store and library at Drobo, Tainano No. 2 and Zezera respectively.
• Construction of 2 No. 3-bed room bungalows for District Commander of Police and the District Magistrate respectively.
• Construction of 1 No. Maize Market at Drobo.
• Construction of 1 No. slaughter House at Japekrom.
• Construction of 1 No. butchers’ shop at Japekrom.
• Construction of 1 No. Area Council building at Adamsu.

Additionally I would like to inform this August house that due to the urgency of the situation at the time, some projects were awarded under the certificate of emergency. Indeed some have been completed while others are still ongoing during the last quarter.

They include:

• Dislodgement of 4 No. Toilets at Drobo, Japekrom and Kwasibourkrom.
• Renovation of DCE’s and DCD’s bungalows.
• Evacuation of refuse dump near Sakora Park.

The Construction of playing fields for our Lady of Providence and Drobo Secondary Schools respectively have not yet taken off due to circumstances beyond our control. As soon as we are ready you will be duly inform accordingly.

New Administration Block
Hon. Presiding Member and colleague Members, plans are also far advanced to build a new Administration Block. We are still negotiating with Nananom for land for the project. We shall keep you posted with the details in the course of time.

Engagement of Assembly’s Artisans on Projects
Hon. Presiding, management has decided to use the Assembly’s artisans on some of its projects as from this Year rather than allow them to come to work and do nothing and yet are being paid by government monthly. Besides, using direct Labour to embark on some of our projects can help reduce cost thereby making savings for the programmes to be accomplished.

Official Vehicles
Hon. Presiding Member, following the approval by this August house to purchase two official vehicles, management sought approval from the Administrator of District Assembly’s Common Fund and procured a Toyota Hilux Pick up for the office to enhance our mobility in the discharge of official assignments. Even though approval was given for the purchase of two vehicles, we were constrained by financial difficulties to procure all at once.

Consequently, we sent two of our old official vehicles to Nissan Company in Kumasi for total rehabilitation and repair them to be used in the interim so that our mobility will be enhanced in the discharge of our duties. It is envisaged that this will allow enough time to plan for the remaining new Pick - up to be purchased in the very near future.

Fee-Fixing Resolution And Budget For 2006
The Fee-Fixing Resolution and Budget for 2006 have been prepared by the F & A Sub-Committee and routed through EXECO to be placed before you. At the appropriate time during our deliberations the two documents will be subjected to your scrutiny and final approval. I am really sure that you would add your blessing to them so that, we can implement it to the letter to enhance revenue generation for the smooth and effective the running of the Assembly.

AGRIC
Employment Task Force
Hon. Presiding Member, as part of Government policy all Districts have been enjoined to form employment Task Force in our respective Districts to help manage the unemployment situation. In view of this, an employment Task Force has been formed in our District with the purpose of generating jobs for the youth in our communities.

This intervention covers the areas of Agriculture, Health and Education. It targets young school leavers who are trainable to be trained-in our communities as teachers and health aides. Interested young men and women who would like to go into agriculture shall be given technical and financial assistance to enable them produce enough food for sale and thereby improve their living standards.   Hon. Members are therefore urged to keep your eyes open and look for such persons in your communities to make the exercise a success.

Agric Information Centre
Hon. Presiding, to further boost agricultural production and ensure that our farmers get up to date information on agriculture, an agric information centre shall be built at an accessible point for the purpose.  This office shall be manned by MOFA staff and shall be opened to all farmers and fishermen who need such vital information.

EDUCATION
BECE Results (2005)
A total number of 2053 candidates were registered for the examination this year. Out of this number, 2039 took the examination. In all, 1246 obtained aggregate six (6) to Thirty (30). In terms of Sex, 1510 and, 782 were boys and girls respectively. In all 14 candidates absented   themselves from the examination.

The breakdown is as follows; 
 
                        BOYS    GIRLS     TOTAL
Pregnancies     -                6          6
Drop out          4               2          6
Traveled          2               -           2
Total                    6                    8             14

District Education Office Complex
Hon. Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, work on the District Education Office complex is steadily progressing and is slated to be completed by the end of the 2nd quarter this year.

Best Teacher Awards (2004 - 2005)
Funds for the organization of Best Teacher Awards have been released to the District Directorate of Education for the ceremony. It is hoped that the function will come off on 6th March, 2006 and you are entreated to keep the date open and endeavour to attend.

Video Shows and Dance
It has been observed that one of the major causes of dismal performance of our school children in the District is the proliferation of video houses. In other to stem down the tide and help improve the standard of education in the District, video shows and dances need to be, regulated. In this connection it is been to proposed to allow such activities only during week ends. I am therefore craving the indulgence of the House to give the proposal a nod to enable its quick implementation.

HEALTH
National Polio Immunization Exercise
Distinguished Members of the House, this year’s Immunization Programme against POLIO commenced throughout the District from 8th December - 11th December, 2005. If one considers the vim, and enthusiasm with which the programme was implemented coupled with the success rate, it is my firm belief and conviction that our District will be a polio-free one in the years to come.

Let me therefore at this juncture, use this forum to sincerely thank all the health and other staff that assisted to make the exercise a success. Whilst I urged you to keep your efforts alive, I also wish to assure you of the Assembly’s support to ensure that polio myellitis is completely eradicated from our District.

Sanitation
Hon. Members, the poor sanitary conditions prevailing in the District is often blamed on lack of tools and equipment. I am happy to inform you that sanitary tools have been procured to enable the Environmental Health workers keep the District clean to prevent the out break of diseases such as cholera and malaria. I urged you to get involved in our resolve to rid our District of filth.

COMMUNITY BASED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Capacity Building Workshop
Hon. Presiding, to further deepen decentralization in this District a capacity building workshop was organized by the Community Based Rural Development Programme for some selected Area Councils in the District.

Its aim was to equip area council members with the requisite skills to efficiently manage their councils.   Participants included Assembly Members, Opinion Leaders and Unit Committee Members. These workshops have been organized on pilot basis to be replicated in  the remaining Town/Area Councils in the Region later with CBRDP  support.   These Area Councils which have not yet benefited will definitely have in your turn in due course.                            

Bushfires
Hon. Presiding Member once again the dry season is with us and all and sundry need to garner our resources and efforts together to fight bushfires in our district. You recall that at the Farmers’ Day Celebration at Faaman the bushfire campaign was launched. We owe it our communal duty to rise up to the occasion and nip the spate of setting I fires in the bud.

One negative development that has saddened me in our resolve to fight I bush fires is the lackadaisical attitude of our security personnel,  particularly the police at fighting the setters of such fires. Any time culprits are apprehended in their matches collected from them they often go to the police and lodge complaints that they have been assaulted by the fire volunteers. Instead of the security agencies to assist deal with the culprits, they rather tend to proffer cases of assault against the volunteers.

In the end they do nothing about the case and often times discourage the volunteers from pursuing the criminals. This situation is sad indeed. I therefore wish to admonish the police to be wary of such cases and deal ruthlessly with the culprits according to law rather than dismissing such cases with contempt.

District Chief Executives Tour Of The District
Hon. Presiding Member, my tour of the district commenced shortly after my assumption of duty in fact due to circumstances beyond my control I could not reach out to all the communities. However, one observation I have made during my tour which negatively impacts on the success of the tour has been the very lukewarm attitude of the youth in attending such gatherings. At the various communities I visited only Nananom and a few elders often gather to receive me and my entourage. The behavior indicates that no proper organization was done at the community level which suggests that something serious needs to be done to whip up enthusiasm in the youth.

In view of this Hon. Presiding Member I wish to fervently appeal to, and remind Hon. Members to be personally involved in the organization towards these visits. There is need for us to meet the youth of our electoral areas to educate them on these issues and also involve them when you are preparing for the visits. Hon. Presiding those communities.  I am yet to visit should ensure the full participant of the youth it will not be a long time when I shall resume my tour to your communities and I would not like to come and see similar apathy exhibited by the youth.

Let me also add that, as representatives of your respective communities you are duty bound to carry your electorates demands to the Assembly while at the same time convey the decisions of the Assembly back to your electorates. Many of us here do not really play this role but I think the time has come for us to wake up from our slumber and be up and doing in this regard.

The Need For Unity For Development
Hon. Presiding unity is an indispensable ingredient for development. As you are all aware, our Assembly before creation of Jaman North was deeply divided and this seriously stagnated our development and progress to some extent. This time around we have become smaller, and it has become more crucial than ever for us to dose our ranks in the supreme interest of the development of our deal District.

I wish to particularly appeal to Nananom to spearhead the crusade to bring our people together to form the nucleus on which to build the future of the Jaman South. The District can become a force to reckon with when we can see our Amanhene come together to deliberate amicably in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility on developmental issues that affect the entire District. It is my dream to, one day, see all the Amanhene come together to celebrate the Yam Festival. The oneness and unity of purpose of our people can lead Jaman South District to access the Urban Five Programme which will help open up the District to the outside world and bring equitable development to the area.

And this can be achieved when Japekrom, Kwasibourkrom and Drobo become one. It is my hope and prayer that Nananom, Hon. Assembly Members, Opinion leaders and the youth will all give my clarion call a thought to enable us fashion out strategies to diffuse existing tensions and foist unity for our forward march to quick and accelerated development of our District.

Hon. Presiding, before I draw my address to a close, I wish to sincerely acknowledge with gratitude the tremendous support I enjoyed from the members of the house since my appointment. Let me also extent my thanks to the heads of department, staff of the Assembly and most particularly our visitors who have traveled from far and near to participate in our deliberations. I am convinced that this year around we shall become more united and more purposeful so that we can push our District forward to become one of the best, if not the best.

On this note, I wish you all a happy and a prosperous new year. Thank you may God bless us all.


ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HON. APRAKU TANOH, AT THE 3RD  ORDINARY MEETING  OF THE FOUTH SESSION OF FOURTH ASSEMBLY HELD ON THURSDAY, 1St JUNE, 2006 AT THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HALL, DROBO AT 10:OOAM.

HON. PRESIDING MEMBER
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
COLLEAGUE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS
LADIES & GENTLEMEN

I am really glad to welcome you to our third ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the fourth Assembly. We should all be thankful to the Lord Almighty for the peace and life bestowed on us since the last meeting. I ask for wisdom and strength for all of us to enable us take stock of what we have done so far, so that we can redefine our objectives and strategies with the goal of improving the living standards of our people.

Hon. Members, Since our last meeting in January 2006, I informed you that the administration was going to undertake certain programmes. These started in earnest and I seek your indulgence to permit me to highlight on the projects, programmes and events that have taken place over the last four and a half months.

Security
The security situation in the district has been very calm. This feat did not come by chance but by dint of hard work on the part of DISEC through effective collaboration with its security agencies in the district. However, there has been a theft case involving two new motor bikes belonging to the District Health Directorate resulting in the interdiction of some officers.

Infact, over the last few years, as reported by the MIRROR on Saturday, 27th May, 2006, more than 107 motorbikes have been stolen from the Ministry of Health. The issue is still under investigation and we shall keep you abreast with any new development on this matter.

Hon. Presiding Member, even though there have not been any chieftaincy litigation within the period, management is making tireless efforts to neutralize the existing tensions between Nanamon. In this vein, management is arranging durbars and fora to sensitize and educate our people on the importance of physical planning in the urbanites, the need for unity and the benefits to be derived when we speak with one voice. At the appropriate time you will be duly informed of the outcome.

ECONOMIC
Internally Generated Fund
Hon. Presiding, For the first quarter of this year/ an amount of Ninety-two Million, Sixty-One Thousand, Six Hundred Cedis (¢95,061,00) has been generated internally. I believe that we still need to double our efforts to explore more revenue forces to improve the situation.

Indeed our average revenue performance for the first quarter was estimated at 126 Million. What it means is that, we fell short of ¢34m on the average.

Consequently, we have resolved to improve the situation by adopting the following strategies:

• Issuing out demand notices for property rates and basic rates.
• Carrying out public education on the need for people to pay tolls and so on.
• Investing on revenue generating ventures.
• Enhancing stricter supervision of revenue staff to help minimize leakages.

Works
As I reported to you at the last Assembly meeting, we still have over 5 Billion cedis outstanding payments to be paid our creditors. In fact most of the projects are on-going and this has in effect, affected the initiation of new projects to satisfy requests from Hon. Members. I would therefore urgeyou to exercise maximum restraints as we grapple with the outstanding debt owed to our contractors. However, under the, Community Based Rural Development Programme, we are in the process of awarding the following projects:

• Construction of 1 No. 3-Unit Classroom Block with Office, Staff Common Room, Store and 4-Seater KVIP Toilet at Asare.
• Construction of 1 No. 3-Unit Classroom Block with Office, Staff Common Room, Store and 4-Seater KVIP Toilet at Kwasibourkrom R/C Primary.
• Construction of 1 No. 3-Unit Classroom Block with Office, Staff Common Room, Store and 4-Seater KVIP Toilet at Jenjemireja R/C Primary.

Hon. Members, as we are all aware the HIPIC projects which are awarded prior to the 2004 elections have not had any sufficient funding. Resultantly, a big chunk of our DACF funds have been used to pay contractors who are on these projects. And since we are not sure of when HIPIC funds would be released to complete the projects and, or refund what has been spent already back into the DACF account, I wish to humbly propose that Assembly absorbs the HIPIC projects as part of our DACF projects. By so doing Assembly would find its way clearer to know exactly a total bill it owes on DACF projects and therefore strategize to deal with the debt judiciously.

AGRIC
Cocoa Mass Spraying
Spraying Gangs have been formed and would start operations in the first week in July this year. Steps are also being taken to get enough chemicals to be stored for the exercises.

Education on Bird Flu
The bird flu epidemic which has hit Asia and some African Countries is being tackled. Education has been on-going since its out break in our neibouring countries and it is hoped that with our timeous approach the flu will be prevented.

EDUCATION
District Education Endowment Fund
Hon. Presiding Member, Time and again, some Hon. Members have recommended the establishment of an Education Endowment Fund. Rightly so, it is high time that we put in place this Endowment Fund to assist the needy but brilliant children. I therefore urge all and sundry to support this worthy proposal so that before we leave here today a committee would be put in place to workout the modalities for its take off.

Scholarship
Hon. Presiding Member, Due to the importance attach to education in the district, six students have been awarded scholarship comprising 4 SSS students and 2 Tertiary students amounting to ¢12,000,000.00. Procurement of Motorbikes for Circuit Supervisors Reports received from the Education Sub-committee indicate that supervision is not the best in our schools. The remote cause has been identified as lack of transport for the Circuit Supervisors.

It is therefore being proposed to purchase five motorbikes for the Circuit Supervisors to be re-imbursed over a period of time by the beneficiaries. Your mandate is being sought to enable us take action on the request.

Registration of Disables for Health Insurance
As part of government policy to support the disable persons, management has registered all the physically challenged persons in the district under the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme.

Furniture for the office of the District-Administration
In recognition of the fact that the Assembly’s furniture have not onlybe come obsolete but are getting weaker and crumbling... it has been proposed to replace the old furniture in the office which I believe had not been changed since 1988. We need your urgent approval of this request to be able to replace them immediately.

Sanitation and Waste Management
Hon. Presiding Member, Waste Management which is the prime objective of all District Assemblies is becoming complex and expensive nowadays. It is therefore strategic that we procure a refuse truck to augment the work of the only refuse tractor.

If not any time the refuse tractor happens to spoil, the whole township will be engulfed in filth. Additionally, the rate at which refuse is being generated is out - pacing the frequency of collection. Hence your approval to the proposal will hope stem the tide. Let us all remember that the success of our Health Insurance largely depends on our ability to control filth in communities. If this is achieved the incidence of disease and ill-health will be minimized greatly. To facilitate and improve sanitation, we need to procure more refuse containers to be placed at vantage points in our towns.

Dustbins are also needed to be placed at busy points as well. Therefore our beget provision need to be increased to make it possible for the procurement of the equipment and I urge you to consider the beget increase.

District Assembly Elections
Hon. Presiding Member, Once again our District Assembly Elections will soon be with us some of us may or may not return to the assembly. In view of this situation, I wish to congratulate you all for your diverse contributions in making Jaman South District travel: this far. It is my fervent hope and player that all or at least most of you will return to continue with the good works that you have started. To those of us who will be mounting plat forms sooner to seek re-election I wish you every success in your endeavors. For those of uswho may not be returning we wish you the best of luck in what ever you seek to do.

Independence Awards Day
At the 6th March, 2006 independence parade, awards were given to deserving teachers who had creditably performed over the last year. Even though this ceremony was expected to be done separately, it was found expedient to build into the independence anniversary programme.

For the first time in the history of the anniversary, the Assembly received recommendation from Nananom, opinion leaders and some important personalities in and outside the district, for every successful and well organized ceremony. Not with standing a few short comings the celebration was adjudged one of the best. In our bid to add pump and pageantry to next year’s anniversary celebrations it is being proposed that some few civil servants should be roped in and given awards by the District Assembly. In as much as we salute teachers, we also believe that the civil servant needs to be motivated as is being done in some districts. Should this proposal be approved I suggest further the formation of an inter - departmental vetting committee to be established which will be mandated to screen and select the best civil servants in particular categories to be awarded.

Ex-Gratia Awards
Hon. Presiding Member; I can not conclude my address without delving a little into ex-gratia awards. As I hinted earlier, the tenure of the fourth assembly is about to end, and as required by law each assembly is expected to pay ex-gratia to all serving Hon. Members at the end of their tenure. I am happy to announce that we have budgeted for this payment in the IGF and the capitals supplementary budget. Indeed government is discussing the ex-gratia at certain level and at the right time will come out with some figure more encouraging than the present meagre amount.

Let us all keep our fingers cross awaiting the out come of these developments in the interim, we are budgeting with the old figure against hopes. On this expectant note, I wish to urge all and sundry to discuss the issues I have raised dispassionately and objectively to enable us push our district forward.  I wish you all a successful and fruitful deliberations.

Thank you and may the Good Lord bless us all.


For further details of speeches of this district, please follow the links at the right hand side of this page under more ’Info’