The Akatsi North District Assembly has held its first District Public Account Forum at the District capital Ave-Dakpa.

20th May, 2014 was exactly one year, one month and one day since Mr James Gunu who happened to be the first DCE for the district received 100 percent endorsement from the assembly members.

The forum held on the theme: “Implementing the Better Ghana Agenda, Better District, Better Ghana, Our Business our story” was meant to among other things fulfill the government’s promise of transparent and accountable governance, ensure citizens participation in local governance, build trust and confidence in our Local Governance and Decentralization System, and to fulfill the stewardship function of the Akatsi North District Assembly.

The well attended programme brought together, traditional authorities, heads of decentralized departments, assembly members, students, farmers, representatives of interest groups, and the general public among others.

District Chief Executive, James Gunu commended the traditional Authorities in the district for their commitment and collaboration in supporting the assembly for development. He said it was important to ensure people in the district know what is going around them to alleviate their sufferings.

More importantly, he noted, was the need for the people to be abreast of the financial position of the assembly especially with regards to internally generated fund (IGF) and how the funds have been appropriated over the period. He also used the platform to sensitize the public on the need to honour their tax obligations for accelerated development.

He said the initiative is also in line with the president’s quest to ensure people centered governance and transparent and accountable governance.

Participants were briefed on various undertakings of the assembly including inherited projects which have all been completed by the assembly. Among them include;

• Construction of 1No. seater vault chamber toilet at Ave-Dakpa

• Construction of 1No. 6-unit classroom block at Ave SHS

• Rehabilitation of 20No. boreholes
• Construction of 3No. 3-unit classroom block with office and store at Ave-Dakpa J.H.S, Posmonu RC Primary and Posmonu J.H.S.
• Cladding of 2No. 3-unit classroom block at Kpeduhoe
• Reshaping of 11.60km road from Ave-Xevi – Bame to Metrikasa.

The forum also brought to fore about 20 new projects initiatedby the Akatsi North district in 2013 and their current state of completion.

                    ANDA INITIATED PROJECTS 2013

• Construction of 4-unit urinals at markets (Dakpa, Afiadenyigba & Hevi)
• Construction of 6-unit garage & open shed canteen at ANDA premises
• Repair and Installation of 78No. streetlights at Avega and Ave-Dakpa Township
• Training of Twenty(20) WATSAN communities in Operation & Maintenance of Water & Sanitation facilities & CLTS
• Construction of 15 metres access slabs at Ave-Dakpa Market Junction
• Completion of Training Centre for Women in Development
• Completion of Training Centre for Women in Development
• Construction of 2-unit classroom block, office and stores at Dakpa
• Construction of 1 No. semi detached Junior Staff quarters at Dakpa New Site
• Construction of 1 No. semi detached junior staff Quarters at Dakpa New Site
•  Construction of 1 No. semi detached junior staff quarters at Dakpa New Site
• Rehabilitation of old Afiadenyigba Health Post for District Agricultural Directorate
• Drilling & construction of 1No. borehole at Avevi
• Renovation of classroom block for Akatsi North District GES Office
• Construction of 2No. weighing sheds & rehabilitation of CHPS compound Buildings at Dzalele and Avevi
• Rehabilitation of 4-unit classroom block at Agormor
• Construction of warehouse at Ave-Dakpa Market
• Cladding of 2No. 3-unit pavilion at Ave-Dakpa and Ave-Xevi
• Construction of 6-unit office block at Ave-Dakpa New site
• Construction of toilet facility for visitor’s at ANDA premises

About 70 percent of the projects have already been completed while work is still on going on the rest and the DCE assured that every effort will be made to complete and hand over the projects to beneficiaries.
 
“Our district has a lot of potentials both human and natural resources and we should endevour to transform our challenges into opportunities to achieve what we need for the growth of the Akatsi North District Assembly. With unity and focus, we can analyze what we have and channel them into what we need”, Mr Gunu stated.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com