TECHIMAN NORTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HOLDS ITS SECOUND MANAGEMENT MEETING.

Posted on By James Ankamah

The management of the Techiman North District Assembly had a second quarter management meeting on 17th May 2023. The chairman of the meeting was the district chief executive, Hon. Addo – Donkor Everson. In attendance the district coordinating director, the district director of health, district GES PRO and other heads of the decentralized departments and unit heads.

The District Co-ordinating Director, Mrs. Georgina Tumbakorah welcomed members to the meeting and was grateful to them for attending the meeting in their numbers. She made it known to members that; the purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on decisions from   General Assembly meeting held on 27th April 2023 for implementation. She reiterated that the meeting would enable Management to update Hon. Assembly Members in the next General Assembly meeting on decisions that were taken. She therefore calls on members to contribute to a successful meeting. 

The meeting discussed the following relevant issues: decisions from general assembly meeting held on 27th April 2023 and brief report from departments and units.

DISCUSSION OF DECISIONS FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING HELD ON 27TH APRIL 2023

The District Coordinating Director informed members that at the 1st Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Assembly, held on 27th April 2023, several decisions were made for management to implement them. She informed members that any officer who was assigned a task should do as requested to enable Management update Hon. Assembly Members on the decisions that were taken.

Formation of 5 Member Market Committee at Asubingya, Jama and Kominase No.2: On the above subject, it was reported that the Ad-hoc Committee which consisted of the Social Welfare Officer, 2 Assembly Members and the District Planning Officer have visited the markets. The findings were that the market women at Jama complained about the market structure not well structured. The District Chief Executive tasked the Committee to submit a report on their findings.

 Establishment of Gari Market in the District: Shedding light on the above, it was reported that Tuobodom and Aworowa were the proposed locations for the establishment of the Gari Market. The District Chief Executive tasked the District Planning Officer (DPO), Revenue Head, and Head of Works to utilize the existing Gari Market at Tuobodom as a pilot phase to assess its level of patronage. They were also tasked to do advert about the existence of the Gari Market on radio stations and Information centers to create awareness of the Gari market. Based on the report from the committee, the Assembly would then consider establishing additional Gari Market. The District Environmental Health Officer was tasked by the DCE to write to the gari producers outside Tuobodom town to relocate to Tuobodom market which will help prevent the waste water and the stench that were being generated by them.

Kristo Boase Monastery, Our lady Calvary Grotto and Mprisi Forest be supported to develop as tourist site to enhance Local Economic Development: The District Planning Officer briefed members that 8-member ad-hoc committee has been formed to expedite action on the above decision. The Terms of Reference was to visit the proposed tourist areas mentioned and have a meeting with the stakeholders and know how best the Assembly can support them. The District Planning Officer was charged by the District Chief Executive to compile report on the meetings and present it to the Management for further action.

Office Accommodation: The District Chief Executive informed members that, Office accommodation has been rented for Ambulance Service, Ghana Fire Service, and Immigration Service at Jomo Filling Station. Assistant Director I was tasked to write a letter to the officers occupying the rooms as resident to notify them to move out since the office space was going to be used for its intended purpose.

 End of Service Benefit for Assembly Members: Members were informed that a Committee has been constituted to recommend an amount to be paid to Hon. Assembly Members as their End of Service Benefit.

Revenue Database Development :The Head of Revenue made it known to members that, development of Revenue Database was in progress and was tasked by the Hon. DCE to prepare and update Hon. Assembly Members on the next General Assembly Meeting.

Provision of Mobile Crush Barriers to the Police Service: The District Chief Executive tasked Head of Works and Agric Director to write and appeal for support from Financial Institution and Businesses within the District to support the Assembly purchase the mobile crush barriers for the Police Service to be placed at vantage points on night duty. 

REPORT FROM DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS.

INTERNAL AUDIT UNIT: The Internal Auditor reported that the Annual Action Plan and first Quarter report have been submitted to the designated institutions as required by law. He pleaded with Management to respond promptly to second quarter report to enable the Unit to meet the deadline by 30th July,2023.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT: The District Finance Officer informed Members that, the Monthly Trial Balance has been prepared up to April. He indicated that the Financial Report for the First Quarter indicates improvement in the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund.

WORKS DEPARTMENT: The Head of Works Department reported that, the department during the first quarter commissioned the following projects:

  1. Nyansuaka CHPS Compound
  2. Mesidan CHPS Compound
  3. Asueyi CHPS Compound

Three Site Meetings were organized in the First quarter at Jama-Timponim, Asueyi, Mesdian and Buoyem Traffic Light Installation, Tuobodom Traffic light Installation and Construction of District Director of Education Bungalow.

PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT :According to the report presented by the Physical Planning Officer, a total of 71 development applications were submitted and approved at the Spatial Planning Committee and applicants have been communicated to. According to him, the Department embarked on sensitization program on Building permits at Agyenkwa FM and Akina Radio, preparation of Local Plans for Ayeasu and Atrensu. To prevent double applications, training sessions were conducted by the Management Information System (MIS), enabling the identification and elimination of duplicate applications from the system.

 NADMO: The NADMO Coordinator presented an update on the recent activities carried out by the department. He reported that sensitization exercise was carried out at Tuobodom, Offuman, and Buoyem on awareness creation among minors who ride motorbikes. However, sensitization at Aworowa was ongoing at the time of reporting. He added that, the department would plant 400 trees on June 9th 2023 specifically at Aworowa prior to the Green Ghana Day.

He also indicated that, sensitization program has been carried out for Gari processors to sensitize them on the risk and health implications associated with bringing their children to the Gari factory. As part of the sensitization efforts, the Gari processors were advised to send their children to school instead of involving them in the gari processing activities.

EDUCATION :The District Education Directorate reported that, the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination will start on 7th -11th August 2023. The registration ended with a total number of 1734 of candidates, consisting of 835 Males and 899 females. The total Number of Schools registered were 67 which consisted of 42 Public Schools and 25 Private Schools. According to him, the examination centers were five (5), that was Tuobodom SHS, Krobo SHS, Offuman SHS, St Francis SHS Buoyem and Aworowa SHS.

 According to him, the department has constituted a ‘Third Eye Monitoring’ and Supervision Team to monitor the circuit supervisors and submit report to the District Director of Education. Other activities carried out were as follows:

  • Supervision and monitoring of teaching and learning in Schools
  • Promotion of junior ranks
  • Distribution of teaching and learning materials was on going
  • Appointment of new Headteachers: interview was conducted to select qualify applicant to fill few schools that have been splited to double stream. They were Krobo JHS, Tuobodom Nuriya Islamic Basic School etc.
  • The District has been enrolled on the GES Lively Minds Initiative to be part of the 61 Districts who are on the Program.

AGRIC DEPARTMENT: It was reported that, the department was yet to access their MAG funds to enable them carry out crop demonstrations. The Department was currently undertaking crop demonstration with JICA on vegetable at Aworowa. Demonstration of Organic fertilizer was on-going to substitute and serve as a solution of fertilizer in the market for farmers. The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP-2) Seedlings were available to be picked at Wenchi. 

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT: The Department reported that, during the 1st Quarter the 81st and 82nd LEAP Cycle payment were made for 680 beneficiaries. It was also reported that, GRIDCO as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has established a Day Care Center at Asueyi. Distribution of Stoves to beneficiary women in the district was done during the 1st Quarter.

Demand Notice for Operational Fee and Property Rate: It was reported that, demand notice has been issued to rate payers. However, complaints have been received from payers that GRA collectors have been collecting property rate from the rate payers whiles the Assembly’s Revenue collectors have already issued a demand notice on both the property rate and operational permit for businesses to pay. It was therefore resolved that the Revenue Head should invite the GRA officer to meet the DCE and DCD on 8th June 2023 for discussion.

BIRTH AND DEATH DEPARTMENT: On Birth and Death, the Officer reported that, the department during the First Quarter recorded a total of 69 Births consisting of 36 males and 33 females. During the Second Quarter the office recorded a total of 73 births consisting of 34 males and 39 females. This made a total of 142 Birth within the First and Second Quarter whiles no death was recorded.

HEALTH :The District Director of Health services reported to members that the following activities were carried out:

  1. Health Screening were being carried out in communities and institutions to know the health status of everyone.
  2. Covid-19 vaccinations were being administered.
  3. That Mesidan CHPS Compound commissioned few months ago could not be occupied because of faulty light system that required repairs.
  4. That, Nyansuaka CHPS Compound was ready for use, and plans were being made to collaborate with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enroll patients in the Health Insurance programme for better access to healthcare.

Achievement: The District Health Director happily informed Members that the best midwife for Bono East Region was selected from Techiman North District.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT UNIT: The Records Management Unit Officer raised concerns about the insufficient storage space, as additional cabinets were needed to accommodate files currently kept on the floor. Another challenge mentioned was the faulty photocopier machine, which, if repaired could help reduce printing costs and safeguard the confidentiality of sensitive documents. In response, the District Coordinating Director tasked the Procurement Officer to invite a technician to work on the photocopier machine for the Records Management Unit.

STATISTICS

The District Statistician reported that data on ratable properties have been done successfully. He added that some selected Department and Unit Heads were trained during the first quarter on the reporting templates. All the departments have been complying with the directive with the exception of VRA and forestry.

He concluded that, the Department has a challenge with movement to collate data and requested the Assembly to support them with a motorbike to make their movement easier.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNIT

The Environmental Health Officer reported that the following activities were carried out successfully.

  1. House to House exercise on sanitation and household toilet facility inspection exercise was on-going.
  2. Sensitization on Anthrax Disease.
  3. Health Screening for food Vendors.
  4. Evacuation of refuse dump at old Assembly

 It was reported that, the refuse dump at the old Assembly has not been evacuated by the Zoomlion making the area stench and uncomfortable to work. The officer was tasked by the Hon. DCE to invite Zoomlion for a meeting.

  1. The Septic Tank at the slaughter house has been broken and the liquid waste from the ruminates they slaughter have made the whole place to be stench.
  1. The District Coordinating Director tasked the Environmental Health Officer to collaborate with the Assembly Members to Screen those people who sells at night.

CHALLENGES: Some of the challenges enumerated were as follows:

  1. Inadequate logistics
  2. No laptop for the Internal Auditor
  3. No motorbike for the District Statistician
  4. Bad smell at the back of the Old Assembly as a result of the refuse dump

The Chairman in his closing remarks expressed his gratitude to Members for their co-operation and full participation which had brought the meeting to a successful end.  He urged Members to desist from transacting business without the knowledge of District Coordinating Director and himself. He informed members that all Assembly business must pass through the right channels. He assured Members that, issues discussed would be address and urged Members to work as a team for the development of the District.

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