SOCIAL

Akuapim South Municipal Assembly holds First Assembly Meeting

The first ordinary meeting of the 1st session of the 4th general assembly was held on 23rd April 2021, at the Assembly Hall, Aburi. The meeting was graced by Hon. Frank Aidoo, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akuapem South District Assembly, Hon. Michael Ahwireng, the Presiding Member, Madam Lydia Akueteh, District Coordinating Director (MCD). And present were the Assembly Members, the various heads of departments and agencies, the media and some town folks.

Date Created : 4/12/2021 : Story Author : Ghanadistricts.com


The MCE is obliged by law per the Local Governance Act (Act 936, 2016) to address the house on issues that have emerged in the Assembly since the last Assembly meeting and also present the Executive Committee’s report.

In addressing the house, Hon. Frank conveyed his gratitude to God and the Assembly for such an engagement despite the ghastly pandemic that has inundated the country and the whole world. He welcomed all, especially the Assembly Members, as it was the first general assembly meeting in the year and invigorated them to work harder in their respective electoral areas. He also stated that he is in this capacity as a presidential directive, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, for all MMDCE’s to continue to hold forth in the Management of the Assemblies until new appointments are made for confirmation by members of the house.

The meeting was centered on these areas;
i. Security situation in the municipality.
ii. Posting of officers to the municipality.
iii. Developmental projects/ roads.
iv. Education.
v. Health.
vi. National Population and Housing Census.
vii. Vehicle for temporal use by the works department.

SECURITY
Hon. Frank Aidoo in his sessional address spoke on the security issues in the municipality. The Municipal Security Council has adopted strategies to combat crime and to ensure protection of the constituents. The municipality in recent time recorded some incidences of arm robbery, break-ins, illegal sand wining activities and rift between some foreign nationals and indigenes in spite of the calm nature.

EDUCATION
He indicated that the Assembly has received a number of ten (10) officers into various departments and units. Also some tutors for the Akuapem Vocational Technical Institute have been posted from the National Commission Development Directorate to the assembly. The institute was commissioned on the 4th of December, 2020, with 15 classrooms, 19 washrooms, tutors common room and an Assembly point. And the programs to be offered include: fashion, catering & hospitality, plumbing, carving & woodwork, hairdressing, electricals, building & construction and robotics. These will be offered together with some generic courses such as mathematics, English, ICT, entrepreneurial skills and home management. The MCE together with a team visited schools in the municipality and gave out crayon, text books, pencils, toffees, biscuit, nose mask and school uniforms. These uniforms were given to those in the Local Authority. Also from the common fund secretariat, the assembly received dual desks which will be distributed to the lower and upper primary sections of the various schools when schools reopen.

HEALTH
The MCE and some heads of departments went for monitoring of schools to ensure that the Covid 19 protocols were being observed when schools re-opened. Health workers, some officers of the various departments and units, clergy and some teachers within the municipality were vaccinated against the Covid 19. Currently the municipality has no active cases and no death, however, from January to April 149 Covid 19 samples were taken, out of which were recorded 57 positive cases. A pre-school health screening exercise was conducted, and the screening for the free SHS is ongoing.

NATIONAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS
Hon. Aidoo updated the house on the 2021 population and housing census which will begin with a census night celebration on Sunday 27th June, 2021, which is a reference point for the actual enumeration period which will be conducted on Monday June 28, 2021. He entreated the Assembly Members to help with the public education on the importance of population and housing census and the need to give out accurate information. On the 13th of June there will be listing of structures (7days), followed by the census night (12 hours) on the 27th and then on the 28th there will be enumeration of household and persons (14days).

FORUM FOR CHIEFS
As part of the developmental agenda of the assembly, management has planned on organizing a forum for chiefs in the municipality, since their contribution is vital to the development of the society. Issues to be discussed will be centered on the environment, land sales and also possible economic or alternative livelihood training for some traditional authorities who would want to go into various economic ventures.

DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS
The MCE stated that management has decided to venture into poultry farming as part of projects to boost the assembly’s finance. This will be sited at Mariakrom close to MIDA pack house to create jobs and stabilize the finances of the Assembly. Also, six (6) green-houses have successfully been lobbied by management to be built in the municipality very soon. These are supposed to serve as training hub for persons living with disability who wish to venture into agriculture. Hon. Frank Aidoo informed the house that he has made his private Ford pick-up available for use by the works department to help in generating revenue for the Assembly.

In conclusion, reports on the executive committee were read, questions, answers and clarifications were also given where necessary. The Presiding Member gave his closing remarks and the meeting came to an end.