REPORT ON A JOINT STAKEHOLDERS MID-YEAR REVIEW MEETING AT THE TWIFO/ATI-MORKWA DISTRICT, HELD ON 17^TH AUGUST, 2022

The Twifo/Ati-Morkwa district Assembly pursuant to Section 81 of the Local Government Act organized a joint stakeholders mid-year review meeting on 17^th August, 2023 at the District Assembly Hall.

Present at the meeting were all Heads of Departments, Heads of Non-Decentralised Departments and Agencies in the Twifo/Ati-Morkwa District.

OPENING REMARKS

In his opening address, the District Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Robert Agyemang-Nyatakyi, welcomed everyone and stressed on the relevance of the gathering. He further indicated that the core objective of the gathering was in compliance with Section 81 (1) of the Local Government Act, 2016, Act 936 which states that “Departments of a District Assembly shall collaborate and cooperate with non-decentralized departments, state owned enterprises and public cooperations operating in the district in ensuring a coordinated approach to the Development of the district and the country at large”.

PRESENTATIONS

The participants were given different report on the status of 2023 plan implementation. Mr. Raymond Kpabi, the Director of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) gave a presentation on water issue in the District.

The Director of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), presented on the current status of water supply in the district. He told the stakeholders that the district was currently relying on two (2) water systems instead of four (4). As a result, production have dropped from eighty-one cubic meters (81m³) to fifty-one cubic meters (51 m³). Currently the company is able to supply water to areas such as Asikafoamantem, Bankyease and Cocoase. The company was working on restoring broken down pipes so that suburbs like official town and old Praso will have their water restored. He further noted that with the support of the DCE, two (2) additional water pumps have been approved by the regional office and soon will be installed.

The second presentation was on Health which was delivered by the District Health Director, Mr. Emmanuel Partey. One of his submissions was on communicable diseases in the district with Anaemia and typhoid in the increase numbering two thousand two hundred and fifty (2,250) and seven hundred and six (706) respectively. He pleaded with the Department of Environment to beef up their monitoring and regulation duties to ensuring sanity in the district thereby reducing the disease burden. Also, in the area of HIV/AIDS, a total of two thousand one hundred and sixty-five (2,165) persons have been tested so far with thirty-two (32) persons being tested positive.

Top Ten Causes of Morbidity

HIV TESTING AND COUNSELLING

Thirdly, the District Director of Education (DDE) Mrs. Augustina Atakorah was next, throwing light on the number of teaching staff, students (kindergarten, primary, junior and senior high) and the number of pupils it presented for the just ended basic education. In total the district presented over two thousand candidates for the Basic Education Certificate with minimal number of two (2) female students pregnant. She asked stakeholders to help attain a zero female pregnancy casualty in the coming years to boost girl child education in the district.

Moreso, DSP Charles Addai-Boateng presented to the house the current security status in the district. The district so far has recorded one hundred and twenty-four (124) theft cases, seventy-one (71) assaults and forty-three (43) non maintenance cases. Also, sexual base violence cases were noted to be in the rise with defilement increasing from six (6) in the previous year (2022) to fourteen (14) this current year (2023). He asked for support from stakeholders in the fight against pertinent crimes in crucial areas of the district and in the completion of the Police housing Unit to house new officers and encourage newly posted officers in the district to stay.

Current Security Situation in The District

Mr. Cosmos Kodua of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) asked individuals and philanthropists to support in cash in the registration exercise as that will help the authority to sign up many who may not be able to afford its services unto the program.

Finally, issues of inclusive education policy were addressed by Mr. Pius S.K Dzinyela the central regional chairman for GNECC. His presentation was on Advancing the Right to Quality Education for Children with Disabilities and Girls, he rallied for support from all gathered on persons with disabilities. He also indulged developers to make space for disability routes to aide in easy movement.

After all the presentations, questions were asked and suggestions were also made to help shape plans for the District.

CLOSING REMARKS

Upon addressing all issues at the meeting, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Robert Agyemang-Nyatakyi, solicited for collaboration amongst various stakeholders and asked members to join such meetings as it helps in the general development of the district. He also expressed his gratitude to all present.