Touch or click on each spot on the map for insights, updates and media from our townhall meeting in that district
CDD-Ghana’s Regina Oforiwa Amanfo Tetteh, explained the importance of these forums to democracy and the need for citizens to actively participate in the decision making.
During the plenary sessions, Ahmadu Seidu who is a tailor and resident of Sehwi Adabokrom expressed his worry about the income tax levied on small scale traders and artisans like tailors, masons, welders, seamstresses and urged government to support them.
Residents of Biakoye District in the Oti region were addressed by Nanai Adepa John, Secretary of the Nkonya Traditional Council, and Mr. Robert Akolbila, District Coordinating Director of Biokoye District, who represented the DCE. Mr. Isaac Bansah, Planning Officer of Biakoye District, also reported on the district’s service delivery.
Participants, including Queen mothers from the Nkonya Traditional Council, questioned how an individual can demand accountability from the DA if those in charge fail to do so.
Another requested an explanation of the administrative offices outlined in the Legislation Instrument (LI), as well as the NCCE’s involvement in educating citizens about the payment of property rates and other revenues in order to encourage payment. The assembly was urged to revive the sale of seedlings to allow farmers to plant more.
Patience Lantam wanted to know what the 2019 IGF was used for because her checks revealed that the Assembly raised a lot of funds that year. “Was the pandemic the cause of a reduction in the 2020 and 2021 funds, or was it a misuse of 2019 funds that caused the decrease?” She questioned.
At Binduri, the Presiding member of the district discussed some opportunities available for citizens to participate and hold local authorities accountable. The Director of Education presented the key performance indicators in the educational sector, including a decrease in enrollment between primary and secondary school in 2021.
Participants in the Binduri District Forum expressed concern about a lack of furniture in schools, a virus on farms, and a lack of accountability.
The Director of Agriculture highlighted the problems they face with agricultural mechanization. “One key thing to note is that the district has no Agricultural Mechanization Service (AMSEC) Center”. He stated
According the Director, more than 25% females and 75% males are registered beneficiaries of the planting for food and job program in Binduri.
A Presentation of the state of service in Binduri by the MMDA representative highlighted challenges to the health sector: inadequate critical staff, poor state and limited service delivery space in most facilities and no staff accommodation.
A representative of the MMDA presented the state of service in Binduri, highlighting challenges to the health sector: insufficient critical staff, poor state and limited service delivery space in most facilities, and no staff accommodation.
Participants at the Chereponi engagement, including a teacher, wanted to know when the district’s electricity would be extended. He has also urged the assembly to use radio stations to educate citizens about the municipality’s development.
A Ghana Army representative and a police officer responded to security concerns about robbery and advised residents to always report cases of violence to security personnel in their community.
According to an Agric extension officer, the ministry is working to reduce grain price fluctuations, as residents are being enticed to export their grains to neighboring countries.
Participants in Domaa East asked questions on various issues, including the poor state of the District Hospital and delays in obtaining building permits.
A seamstress expressed concern about sourcing goods, services, and expertise locally. “When awarding contracts for school uniforms, the District Assembly must consider the local people,” She stated.
Before the forum, a team led by Paul Aborampah Mensah, Programs Manager at CDD-Ghana, engaged Domaa East residents in a radio discussion on Gifts FM.
At East Mamprusi, a PWD who works as a hairdresser appealed to the Assembly to assist in resolving the community’s water crisis which is affecting their work.
A participant at the meeting inquired about the fate of the Namori community, which appears to be overlooked during resource allocation.
Another resident expressed concern about the community’s deforestation activities, even in the face of climate change, and called on the Assembly to intervene to halt the practice.
The District Planning Officer, Mr. Brimah Suleiman, presented on the state of the district. He confirmed that the assembly has taken up income generating activities such as soap making for the district.
On Agriculture, the planning officer hinted that the Assembly has successfully trained some farmers on good agricultural practices. He added that the district planning office also monitors activities to assess performance and impact.
A resident of Ga Central District mentioned that even though the assembly has said it involves the stakeholders they don’t feel involved and the assembly does collaborate with the various associations in the district such as the electoral association.
A resident raised the issue about the poor state of the footbridges and the roads, claiming these issues were raised with the former MCE several times and to no effect.
Multiple participants stated that they would like to be aware of the various contractors for the projects within the district for increased accountability.
The Municipal Coordinating Director, Municipal Director of Roads, Municipal Director of Agric, Municipal Planning Officer, and a representative from the Health Directorate addressed the forum at Juaben in the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Alex Adu-Gyamfi, Municipal Director of Agric, spoke about the department’s goals and the opportunities available to residents of the municipality. The Municipal Director of Health also provided participants with an update on the Assembly’s performance in 2021, as well as the rationale for medicine use.
A participant expressed concern about GPRTU’s revenue collection, which has been halted for some time. Some residents also alerted authorities on security threats that some schools in the municipality face.
Participants, including Andrew’s Kingsford Quaicoe, Headmaster of the Juaben SDA School, and Mr. Adom Nyantakyi, expressed concern about the lack of road markings in the area, which affects road users.
Amongst the concerns raised included the inability of market women to access parts of the market when it rains, and dissatisfaction with the Assembly’s introduction of new taxes without prior education or notice to residents.
Ibrahim Abdul Hafiz, a resident, also urged the Assembly to work on the Zongo community’s drainage system, which is in a deplorable state.
MCE of the Keta Municipality, Hon. Emmmanuel Gemegah, introduced participants to the assembly’s various structures and departments, as well as the key functions of some of these institutions. He also mentioned the significance of decentralization in Ghana’s governance system.
Participants expressed concern that the majority of the assembly’s offices were inaccessible to people with disabilities (PWDs). Another inquired about the criteria used in selecting schools for the school feeding program.
The District Chief Executive, Traditional leaders, and other residents were in attendance along with the District Chief Imam and his elders.
The District Development Planning Officer presented the state of Service Delivery in the District to the participants, who engaged in a discussion after the presentation.
Participants including the Krontihene of Kronkronpe, and a former DCE, discussed a variety of issues affecting them, including low agricultural yields in mangoes and cashew as well as the district’s poor road network.
At Mion in the Northern region, residents raised concerns about water problems in the region despite the many water resources the country has. They also urged the Assembly to address the information gap between citizens and the Assembly.
At the Sawla-Tuna Kalba District in the Savannah Region, remarks were delivered by the NCCE Director, District Coordinating Director and the District Director for Health. Teachers, media practitioners and other participants took turns to voice out their concerns at the forum.
At the Sissala Municipality, participants expressed appreciation for the Citizen Speak Series as it served as a medium for citizens to engage duty bearers and urged CDD-Ghana to advocate for government not to delay with releasing funds to State agencies like Assembly, GES and Health to enable them function well.
While addressing agitations by citizens’ on their fear of the military due to issues related to military civilian brutality, Captain Donkor assured residents on the duty of the military to protect citizens and not to brutalize them.
Citizens were encouraged to support in monitoring and reporting suspicious individuals within border communities in the Sisasala East Municipal to prevent extremist groups from entering Ghana through unapproved.
The Paramount Chief of Tumu tasked the Municipal Assembly to support Ghana Education (GES) and other departments with fuel out of the Assembly’s IGF to aid public engagements and monitoring of development projects for improved service delivery.
A chief addressed issues raised by residents on early marriages of young girls in the district.
A representative of the MCE of Tano South, highlighted that the major challenge of the municipality is low IGF generation. “People want more services but reject any proposal for paying fees in the municipality.
A representative of GNAT asked whether the DA actually was the one that granted a permit for a gas filling plant to be sited in front of the Municipal Education Directorate.
The head of inspectorate at the Municipal Education Directorate raised concerns on lack of desks for basic schools in the district.
While presenting the state of service delivery in the Tempane district, the DCE noted that the district had risen to first place in the overall ranking of districts. There were “no maternal deaths in 2021.”
He provided updates on the delivery of services in the areas of health, education, and agriculture.
He stated, “We are committed to achieving SD4 Goal 4 by 2030 – equitable education delivery and equal opportunities for all.”
During the forum at the Garu-Tempane Teachers Hall, media personnel complained about the wrong timing of fertilizer supply and the Assembly’s lack of information flow, such as the lack of consultation on street naming.
During his speech, the District Police Commander, noted that enforcing the law in the area required extra care and civility. While educating the public about police work, specifically the stop and search of motorcycles, he mentioned that his office is open to the public.
In Wa West, the DCE, the District NCCE Director, a representative from the Health Directorate, and a representative of the Wechau Naa addressed the gathering at the forum.
Hon. Vida Diorotey, DCE for Wa West, addressed citizens’ concerns about the District hospital’s poor condition and charged all heads of department to be transparent in responding to citizens’ needs.
The Wassa-Amenfi Central forum was facilitated by the DCE, Hon. P. H. Amponteng, the District Coordinating Director, the NCCE Director, the Education Director, and the District Director for Agriculture.
The DCE underscored the essence of taxation to the development of the district and urged residents to help the Assembly raise the needed revenue to support the government subsidies to solve their developmental needs.
Emmanuel Boateng, District Coordinating Director for Amenfi Central, gave a detailed explanation of the components of the IGF, after which participants asked questions.
Participants raised concerns about the state of roads in the district. They also appealed to the DCE and other authorities to intervene in the illegal mining activities in the area.
Residents of Yilo Krobo were engaged by officials of the Assembly, Security officers and other MMDA officials. A representative of the Ambulance Service, P.K Boateng outlined some services the department offers aside from carrying patients.
At Zabzugu in the Northern region, the District Coordinating Director and the District Planning Officer outlined the opportunities available for citizens to make decisions at the district level.
The Chief of Sabali Zabzugu raised concerns about the failure to include chiefs in the District planning.
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