E/R Information Services Department

THE SUHUM MCE MEETS WITH QUEEN MOTHERS IN THE SUHUM MUNICIPALITY

On 21st November 2023, The Suhum Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Mrs. Margaret Darko Darkwa and a team from Ghana Health Service and GES paid the courtesy call on queen mothers in the Suhum Municipality to sensitize them on HIV/AIDS and Bilharzia.

The purpose of the meeting was to educate the Queen mothers on the causes, prevention, signs, symptoms and treatment of HIV/AIDS and Bilharzia. The rep from GES, Mrs. Linda Boakye indicated that a survey been conducted in Eastern Region and Suhum Municipality has recorded the highest number of Bilharzia cases. Hence this education and sensitization has come at the right time. However Bilharzia has a cure therefore anybody can walk into a health facility for diagnosis and treatment.

The queen mothers were advised to educate their community members to avoid swimming in rivers and water bodies, they were also advised that HIV/AIDS is real so they should encourage their people to be faithful to their partners and use Condoms when having sexual in*******se.

The MCE donated 16 pieces of cloths, 2 cartons of malt, a box of biscuits and Schnapp to the queen mothers.

The queen mother of Suhum, Nana Arko Bensua expressed her profound gratitude the MEC and her team for the donations and the education.

Credit
Alberta Serwaa
(AIO – Suhum)

RTI OFFICER UNDERTAKES TWO-DAY SENSITIZATION FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE DENKYEMBOUR DISTRICT

The Right to Information (RTI) Act was passed into law in Ghana in 2019 with the aim of promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the country. As part of efforts to create awareness and educate stakeholders on the provisions of the Act, the RTI officer of Denkyembour District Assembly; Mr Solomon Ofosu conducted a two-day sensitization exercise for the staff of Ghana National Fire service, Ghana Immigration Service and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in Akwatia. The sensitization program occurred on Thursday 16th November 2023 and Friday 17th November 2023. The main objectives of the sensitization exercise were to educate staff on the key provisions of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989). The sensitization was also aimed at creating awareness about the importance of the RTI Act in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the District. It was also undertaken to highlight the role of the RTI officer and institutions in ensuring the effective implementation of the Act within the district and finally to address any questions or concerns raised by participants regarding the Act. The sensitization exercise was conducted at the various offices of the institutions.
The RTI officer provided an overview of the Act, including its objectives, scope, and key provisions. Participants were educated on the importance of the right to information as a fundamental human right and its relevance in promoting transparency and accountability in governance. The officer also explained the process for accessing information under the Act, including the procedures for making requests and the timelines for response. Participants were informed about the exceptions and exemptions to the right to information, including the circumstances under which information can be withheld.

The officer explained the role of the RTI officer and Head of institutions in ensuring the effective implementation of the Act within the District. Participants were educated to ensure effective compliance with the provisions of the Act.

Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on any issues related to the Act.

The sensitization exercise was successful in achieving its objectives, with participants gaining a better understanding of the RTI Act and its importance in promoting transparency and accountability in governance. The exercise also helped to address any questions or concerns raised by participants regarding the Act.

The sensitization exercise conducted by the RTI officer of Denkyembour District Assembly was an important step in creating awareness and educating staff of the institutions on the key provisions of the RTI Act 2019 (Act 989). The exercise helped to promote transparency and accountability within the participated institutions and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act. It was recommended that similar sensitization exercises be conducted regularly to ensure that stakeholders are kept abreast of any changes or updates to the Act.

Credit
Elvis Offei-Bekoe
(DIO - Denkyembour)

DENKYEMBOUR DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HOLDS DISTRICT PLANNING CO-ORDINATING UNIT (DPCU) MEETING

On Wednesday 15th November 2023, the District Planning Co-ordinating Unit (DPCU) of the Denkyembour District Assembly held a meeting to discuss the guidelines for the preparation of 2023 Annual Progress Report. The new guidelines for the preparation of 2023 APR was a requirement from the National Development Planning Committee (NDPC).

The chairman for the committee; Alhaji Shamrock Abdulai Gafaru welcomed all members to the meeting and mentioned that the DPCU was the engine of the assembly and that meeting of the DPCU was of utmost importance to the assembly. He also urged members to pay rapt to the new APR guidelines.

The District Planning Officer; Mr Mohammed Baba Abdulai took members through the guidelines. He mentioned that, the new guideline was the improvement over the reporting template for 2022 Annual Progress Report. He then mentioned that there were six main thematic development dimensions for the new reporting guidelines which included Emergency Planning and Response. He also added that the 2023 APR would be measured as an overall proportion of the 2022-2025 Medium Term Development Plan.
The APR also has a part for reporting the statuses of all projects within the district which would include pictures of the projects at each stage of completion. The reporting of programs would now also include beneficiaries of the executed program as part of the report. He also added that departments and institutions would be required to do an analysis of programs and projects and the funding sources.

He lastly added that the report stressed on emergency reporting where there should be breakdown of emergency cases and the respective plans to resolve those emergencies when they occur. The report also features sections where districts are supposed to report on Climate Change Adaptations, Integrated Social Services and UNICEF programs if any. He then urged Heads of Departments to begin working on their APRs and present to the District Development Planning Officer.

In other matters, the District Health Director; Mr Daniel Derby briefed the committee about an upcoming National Diabetes Day Celebration which would be commemorated on Tuesday 21st November 2023. He mentioned that there would be free screening of BP, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index for all participants. The celebration would be held at the forecourt of the District Health Directorate.

The District Manager for Electricity Company of Ghana also briefed the house on the new billing system. He mentioned that the institution will soon be embarking on a district-wide sensitization program on the new billing system. He lastly added there is a feature on the ECG Power App that could aid in regularizing the bill.

The chairman for the committee in his closing remarks informed the district planning officer that he should give out dates of meeting and submission of APR on time to prevent any delay the submission of the report. He then wished all members well and expressed his gratitude to all members for taking time to attend the meeting.

Credit
Elvis Offei-Bekoe
(DIO - Denkyembour)

NEW JUABEN SOUTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY ORGANISES TOWN HALL MEETING

The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly in collaboration with Star Ghana Foundation is organising a Town Hall Meeting for the chiefs and people of Koforidua, particularly, the youth in the Eastern Regional Capital. The meeting, themed; 'Promoting Civic Engagement; Role of Youth in Development' is expected that young people will leave with the confidence that their concerns have been taken on board and can approach the authorities any time to engage them. The meeting also sought to build the mutual relationships be forged between the authorities and the young people.
Credit
Collins Aikins Akuffo
(MIO - NJSMA)

DENKYEMBOUR DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HOLDS GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

On Monday 30th October 2023, Denkyembour District Assembly held its second ordinary meeting of the General Assembly for the year 2023 at the District Assembly Hall. The meeting began with an opening prayer at around 10:30 am.

The Presiding Member for the assembly; Honourable Kennedy Asante, expressed his gratitude to all assembly members, the Member of Parliament, heads of departments, Nananom and all guests for honouring the invitation. He also appealed to the assembly members to give out their maximum cooperation during the meeting. He then took the house through a discussion on actions taken and recommendations from the previous meeting.

There was a brief sensitization from the District Registration Officer of the National Identification Authority. He first and foremost informed the house about the ongoing registration of the Ghana Card. He mentioned that citizens who wishes to make changes on their cards should could also come to the office for those changes. He however appealed to assembly members to educate their electorates on the vouching process in order to ensure a smooth registration process. He lastly mentioned that the registration was backed by a lot of laws and regulations hence some delay in the process.

The Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission was also invited to brief the house to on recent electoral processes within the district. He mentioned that there was limited registration of eligible voters in the past weeks and transfer of votes. He added that there would be exhibition of the voters register at the various polling stations from 3rd November to 9th November 2023. He lastly added that nomination and filing of forms for prospective candidates in the District Level Elections.

The Member for Parliament for Akwatia Constituency, Honourable Henry Boakye Yiadom also addressed the General Assembly. He expressed his gratitude to all assembly members and heads of departments for giving him the audience to address the general assembly. He presented his projects and programs that he had undertaken since he assumed office as Member of Parliament. Major projects he presented include Construction of 1 No. 3 Unit Islamic Block, construction of small water system with poly tank, construction of Emergency Block at GCD Hospital, Reshaping and maintenance of road in selected communities and construction of 3 unit classroom block in Sakyikrom. He lastly expressed his gratitude to everyone for their support.

The District Chief Executive for the Denkyembour District; Honourable Seth Birikorang Ofosu was called upon to deliver his sessional address to the house. He began by expressing his gratitude to all members present.

He centred his address on Finance, Security, Developmental Projects, Education, Health, Agriculture, Community and Social Development and Administrative issues.

On Finance, he mentioned that the assembly as at 30th September 2023 had realized total IGF revenue of GHC 1,018,767.35 as compared with total IGF revenue budget of GHC 1,521,090.00 which represented 66.98% of the budget. The total budgeted expenditure for the period stands at GHC 1,521,090.00 and the total actual expenditure of GHC 1,010,261.30 which represent 66.42% of the expenditure budget.

On issues of health, the Directorate collaborated with the Ghana Education Directorate received 4,082 school bed nets and distributed 4,045 to schools within the district, for both public and private. In all, 1,221 male and 2,824 females benefited from the program. Also, there was national COVID-19 mass vaccination that was carried out with a total of 696 individuals who were vaccinated out of a target group of 1501.

On Education, he mentioned that the Basic Education Certificate Exams took place at four centers which started from 7th July 2023 to 11th July 2023. Additionally, the Education Directorate participated in the inter-zonal festival of arts and culture from 14th September to 16th September 2023. Lastly, the directorate participated in the inter-zonal regional sports competition which also took place from 19th July 2023 to 22nd July 2023.

Lastly on issues of Agriculture, he mentioned that the district assembly trained 36 farmers on the control of Fall Army Worms. The department also trained 33 farmers and technical staff on improved breeding of farm animals like small ruminants, poultry and pigs and livestock production as business. He finally added that the department training of 6 market enumerators on the use of weighing scale, electronic balance analytical scale and standardization in measurement in market places.

He then presented the reports from the seven sub-committees of the assembly. The house approved the DCE sessional address which included the Executive Committee report.

The Presiding Member also led the discussion and approval of the 2024 Draft Composite Budget, Fee-Fixing Resolution, Revenue Improvement Action Plan and Draft Annual Action Plan.

The Presiding Member in his concluding remarks expressed his gratitude to all members and heads of departments including Nananom and the representatives of the religious bodies for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the meeting.

Credit
Elvis Offei-Bekoe
(DIO - Denkyembour)