The Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly in collaboration with Zoom Lion Ghana organized a clean – up activity at the Osiem lorry station on Saturday, 9th September, 2023. Dignitaries that attended the clean-up exercise include: The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Babs Bodinga, The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah, Hon. Assembly Members, Heads of Department/Units, staff and some of youth from the Osiem town.
Hon. Alhaji Babs Bodinga thanked the youth for attending the clean – up activity. He advised them to keep the surroundings clean and it was very important for the Municipal Assembly to organize this exercise regularly for the Municipality to be clean. He also assured the people that, the exercise would be carried out regularly. He urged the youth to stay focus and never give up in life.
The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah also thanked the staff of the Assembly for a successful clean-up exercise. He also urged the Municipal Assembly to keep up the good work. He advised the youth to be focused in life and content with whatever they had while working hard to build a better future for themselves. He told them to avoid negative activities in life.
The Presiding Member, Hon. Asare Gyekye expressed his gratitude to the Municipal Assembly. He assured the youth to do their best to serve the elderly and the country at large. He told the young ladies to maintain a good personal hygiene. He also advised the young ladies to avoid teenage and unwanted pregnancies.
The youth of Osiem expressed their appreciation to the management of the Municipal Assembly because it was very educative.
Community members working together with the Assembly staff
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CIVIC EDUCATION (NCCE) OF ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL EMBARKED ON A CEC EXCURSION TO THE MUNICIPAL POLICE STATION
On August 22nd, 2023, the Abuakwa North Municipal National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), under the guidance of Mrs. Beatrice Nyarkoah Budu, partnered with pupils from Ofori Panin Junior High School, Akyem Kukuratumi, for an illuminating educational expedition. The focal point was the Akyem New Tafo Police Station, where the intention was to foster a deeper comprehension of law enforcement mechanisms among the budding minds of the students.
This visit served as a conduit to familiarize the students with a spectrum of law enforcement dynamics. Chief Inspector Kingsford Obeng, the adept Station Officer, alongside Sergeant CID Robert Sakyi, orchestrated an informative lecture. During the discourse, students were acquainted with the duties and operations of the Police and also with an array of fundamental Police documents such as the Station Diary (Reference Book), Arms and Ammunition records, Cells Book (Form 69), Diary of Action Taken, Extracts of Occurrence, Police Medical Forms, and Bail Bonds. These documents were elucidated as crucial tools in the administration of justice and maintaining order.
The station visit culminated in an interactive session, during which Chief Inspector Kingsford Obeng emphasized the pivotal role of community involvement in maintaining security and encouraged students to report suspicious activities to the police. This initiative served as a bridge between the police force and the younger generation, fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for law and order. The students’ engagement with Police procedures and documents signifies a step towards a well-informed and civically conscious populace.
The community engagement and soap making training was held on 16th August, 2023 at the Ati Palace. The aim of the event was to empower the PWD’s with the skill in soap making, fostering community engagement, promoting inclusivity and education on the use of the District Assembly Common Fund startup kits that are disbursed
EVENT DETAILS
The event began with an opening prayer by one of the disability advocates. The opening ceremony included speeches from the Municipal Director, the Kukurantumi Assembly Member, community leader and the local PWD executives. The speeches highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for persons with disabilities in the municipality and promoting their active participation in society.
Following the opening ceremony and speeches, participants engaged in a comprehensive soap making training session. Officers of the department provided a step-by-step instruction on the soap making process including the selection of ingredients and mixing techniques. The PWD participants were given hands on experience and guidance allowing them to gain practical skills and develop confidence in soap making.
In addition to the soap making training, various interactive sessions were conducted to encourage community engagement and social interactions among participants. These sessions included group discussions, team building and registration of new PWD’s. the participants had the chance to share their experiences, challenges and success stories on the use of their startup kits form the various disbursements.
The community engagement and soap making training for PWD’s proved to be a successful and empowering event. It did not only equip participants with practical soap making skills but also fostered a sense of community, belonging and self-confidence by promoting inclusivity among PWD’s. The event contributed to their social and economic empowerment.
COMPILED BY:
NKANSAH KWABENA AKUAMOAH
(SNR. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER)
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT OF
ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
EMBARKED ON FUMIGATION EXERCISE IN THE MUNICIPALITY.
Stagnant waters as well as cans/tins that accumulates water are likely the breeding places for mosquitoes. Apart from the prevalence of Malaria, fever, diarrhoea diseases, Typhoid fever and other transmissible diseases caused by poor sanitary conditions also affects the people in the Municipality.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited from the Eastern Regional Headquarters in collaboration with their counterparts from the Municipality and the Environmental Health Department embarked on Fumigation exercises from Monday 3rd July, 2023 and ended on Thursday 28th September, 2023 to ensure that, mosquitoes and other disease-causing organisms were destroyed to improve the health status of the general public and prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases in the Municipality.
Prior to the exercise, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mavismay Agbenya inspected the chemical for the exercise to ensure that efficient work was done and all spraying staff were in their protective clothes.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT OF
ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
EMBARKED ON FUMIGATION EXERCISE IN THE MUNICIPALITY.
Stagnant waters as well as cans/tins that accumulates water are likely the breeding places for mosquitoes. Apart from the prevalence of Malaria, fever, diarrhoea diseases, Typhoid fever and other transmissible diseases caused by poor sanitary conditions also affects the people in the Municipality.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited from the Eastern Regional Headquarters in collaboration with their counterparts from the Municipality and the Environmental Health Department embarked on Fumigation exercises from Monday 3rd July, 2023 and ended on Thursday 28th September, 2023 to ensure that, mosquitoes and other disease-causing organisms were destroyed to improve the health status of the general public and prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases in the Municipality.
Prior to the exercise, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mavismay Agbenya inspected the chemical for the exercise to ensure that efficient work was done and all spraying staff were in their protective clothes.
A section of Environmental staffs Fumigation exercise on going
HON. GIFTY TWUM AMPOFO INSPECTS ROAD NETWORKS WITHIN THE ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPALITY
The Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa-North Municipality and the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo on Friday, the 30th of June, 2023 with entourage of Engineers from the Roads and Highways Authority, the Contractor(General Construction), the Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah, the Municipal NADMO Coordinator, Municipal Roads Engineer and a section of assembly staff inspected construction works on segments on an on-going road projects and other areas that have also earmarked to be completed within a stipulated time in the municipality.
Hon. Gifty in her submission said that the aforementioned project has become necessary due to several complaints received from residents of the various communities within the municipality on the deplorable nature of the access roads which hinders commuters from going about their daily activities. She also mentioned that government is committed to bringing developments, construct roads especially for farmers to bring their produce to the market centers with ease and easy access to Health centers especially with cases of emergency. She tasked the contractor to use quality materials and also refrain from doing a substandard work but to do a good work in order to keep the roads in good shape for many years. Briefing the Member of Parliament, the contractor of General Construction promised to complete the project as scheduled.
The Municipal Co-ordinating Director thanked Hon. Gifty for her swift response to issues of prime concern within the municipality. He urged her to keep up her good works.
Ing. Patrick Okoto, Director (Roads & Highways, Eastern Region) in an interaction with the Contractor and Hon. Gifty
Ing. Kwaku Duah in a discussion with Hon. Gifty (on-looking is Ing. Patrick Okoto and the Municipal NADMO Director; Mr. Stephen Osei-Wusu)
The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah in an open discussion with the Engineers and the Hon. MP
The Green Ghana Day as introduced in 2021 by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo as part of an aggressive national afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of Ghana and contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change.
In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the nation’s commitment to restore degraded lands, on Friday 9th June, 2023, the Forestry Commission, Bunso Division and the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly held the Green Ghana Day, 2023 at Savior Senior High School in Osiem. The theme for the celebration was “Our Forests, Our Health”. The launch took place at the school’s Assembly Hall, with a demonstration of tree planting on sections of the school compound. Present at the event were the Hon. Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Member of Parliament, Deputy Manager of the Bunso Division (Forestry Commission), Municipal Coordinating Director, Municipal Education Director, the Headmistress (Savior Senior High School), Hon. Assembly Members, Heads of Department, staff of the Municipal Assembly and staff and students of Savior Senior High School.
In her welcome address, Dr. Hawa Adusei, Headmistress of Savior Senior High School said that the school has planted over 5000 trees on the school compound in a space of 8years with the assistance of Friends of the Environment, a student club in the school. The Deputy Manager for the Bunso Division of the Forestry Commission explained the benefits of tree planting and urged all present to ensure that the forests are well protected.
The Hon. Member of Parliament, Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo in her address also gave practical examples of health benefits in planting trees citing Covid-19 as a personal experience. Hon. Municipal Chief Executive concluded by saying that for the vision of the government to plant trees annually to materialise, there was the need to see to it that trees are planted at strategic places where they will be beneficial to humans and those already planted are protected and nursed properly.
Friends of the Environment club concluded the launch with a poetry recital on trees and the environment before the commencement of the actual tree planting.
PHOTO GALLERY
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony In-shot, the Municipal Education Director
Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo watering a seedling Hon. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga planting a seedling
Group picture of the members of the Club Members of the Friends of the Environment planting a seedling
ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY’S DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC PRESENTS OIL PALM SEEDLINGS TO THE YOUTH AND FARMERS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY
As part of government’s effort to curb the menace of illegal small scale mining widely known as ‘galamsey’ and also in line with government’s flagship programme, Planting for Export and Rural Development (PED). The Agric. Department of the Assembly received Eighteen Thousand Oil Palm seedlings (18,000) in consultation with the Minerals Commission of Ghana and the Oil Palm Research Institute, Ghana.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga on Monday, the 14th of May, 2023 presented the oil palm seedlings on behalf of the Agric. Directorate to farmers within the Municipality.
The purpose of this initiative according to the Director of Agric, Mr. Anthony Narh Nartey, is to stop the youth from engaging in illegal mining, get themselves busy with oil palm farming and production (palm oil, palm kennel and fibre as fuel for domestic use) amongst others in order to alleviate poverty. He also indicated that the initiative will prevent farmers from selling their lands as concessions to illegal small scale miners for money, destroying farmlands, polluting waterbodies, ill-health, child labour and subsequent drop out of school.
Hon. Municipal Chief Executive in his submission mentioned that Ettukrom and Ficher areas are springing up with the activities of illegal miners and with this initiative he believed an avenue of employment had been created in the communities as well as a stop to the pollution of waterbodies and improve enrollment in schools.
Some of the farmers offloading the oil palm seedlings
A section of Farmers with the oil palm seedlings
Municipal Chief Executive presenting an oil palm seedling to a farmer
Municipal Chief Executive addressing the farmers
Municipal Chief Executive and Municipal Chief Executive with some of the farmers
ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY’S DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC PRESENTS COCONUT SEEDLINGS TO THE YOUTH AND FARMERS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY
The Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga on Monday, 2nd November, 2023 through the Municipal Agricultural Directorate presented thirty-five thousand (35,000) coconut seedlings to seven hundred (700) farmers within the Municipality in partnership with the Minerals Commission of Ghana and the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the MCE the purpose of the initiative was aimed at improving the socio-economic development within the Municipality and the country at large. He further explained that after testing the soil within the Abuakwa North Municipality, it was advised that, the planting of coconut and oil palm will do best and generate income for farmers hence the decision to distribute the seedlings. He added that the Municipality is aiming at the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative and therefore urged all farmers to contribute their best to reach that goal.
Hon. MCE in his submission mentioned that the youth should take agriculture very serious in order to improve their livelihood. He advised them to guard against social vices which will have a negative impact on the individual and the community as a whole.
The Municipal Agric Director, Mr. Anthony Nartey thanked all, especially the President and the Municipal Assembly for their continuous support to agriculture and also pledged his support to supervise the farmers after three months of planting in order to achieve desired results before and during harvesting.
Some of the farmers expressed their gratitude to the Government and the Assembly for this kind gesture which will keep them busy and also improve their livelihood.
In attendance were the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Emil Tawiah Atsu, Director of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and some staff of the Assembly.
Handing Over the Coconut Seedling to MCE 
Display of Coconut Seedlings
Farmers waitin distribution of coconut seedlings NADMO Dir., interacting with Farmers and Assembly Members
Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly
Short Story for Website on “Let’s Talk” App & “CleanApp Ghana” Mobile Apps
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in conjunction with the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly and its partners: the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGDRD) and The German Cooperation (GIZ), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resource (MSWR) launched 2 Mobile Apps to enable quality service delivery in Solid waste management and also collect data on gender-based violence to inform decision making and policy implementation. This form of Data collection is generated by the citizens through an Application to be administered on their mobile phones, hence the name Citizen-Generated Data (CGD): “data by the people and for the people”.
The direction of the Government is geared towards digitization which focuses on entrenching Information Communication Technology (ICT) especially Data Science (analytics) at the center of the National development agenda, and as part of a strategy to achieve the Government’s goal to mainstream ICT in the public sector. To increase citizens’ accessibility to Data platforms, collaborative efforts with the private sector and service providers. Helplines have been made available to help achieve the overall purpose of Government. To prioritize Science, Technology, and Innovations (STI) and its applications at the center of development to ensure that STI is mainstreamed in all socio-economic activities.
The “Let’s Talk” App & “CleanApp Ghana” Mobile Apps platforms were launched on 8th May 2023 at the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly Hall to enable Citizens to Generate Data through reporting Gender-based Violence and Solid waste management in our Municipality. The Municipal Technical Team (MTT) was inaugurated and tasked to oversee all activities of the 2 mobile apps to increase awareness and public education on the apps for innovative solutions to reported cases that will be submitted in addition to catalyze Economic growth
The Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly in collaboration with ZoomLion Ghana organized a clean – up activity at the Kukurantumi lorry station on Saturday, 8th April, 2023. Dignitaries that attended the clean-up exercise include: The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Babs Bodinga, The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah, Hon. Assembly Members, Heads of Department/Units, staff and some of youth from the Kukurantumi town.
Hon. Alhaji Babs Bodinga thanked the youth for attending the clean – up activity. He advised them to keep the surroundings clean and it was very important for the Municipal Assembly to organize this exercise regularly for the Municipality to be clean. He also assured the people that, the exercise would be carried out regularly. He urged the youth to stay focus and never give up in life.
The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Ankrah also thanked the staff of the Assembly for a successful clean-up exercise. He also urged the Municipal Assembly to keep up the good work. He advised the youth to be focused in life and content with whatever they had while working hard to build a better future for themselves. He told them to avoid negative activities in life.
The Presiding Member, Hon. Asare Gyekye expressed his gratitude to the Municipal Assembly. He assured the youth to do their best to serve the elderly and the country at large. He told the young ladies to maintain a good personal hygiene. He also advised the young ladies to avoid teenage and unwanted pregnancies.
The youth of Kukurantumi expressed their appreciation to the management of the Municipal Assembly because it was very educative.
Staff of Assembly in action at the clean-up exercise
The Abuakwa North Municipality was fortunate to be a beneficiary from the one hundred (100) new courts/bungalows initiative by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo in all sixteen (16) regions to provide a robust and effective Justice Administration system and to complement the Socio-Economic Development drive in the municipality.
Also, adequately equipping the Judicial Service in terms of facilities to aid a results-oriented justice system is one of governments priorities in addition to accelerating and sustaining decentralization to meet the long term agenda of the government to bring governance to the doorsteps of the people, to ensure effective and efficient decentralization through greater grassroots participation, better planning and improved service delivery in local communities.
On Friday, 10th March, 2023 His Lordship the Chief Justice Kwesi-Anin Yeboah led the commissioning of the District court in the Abuakwa North Municipality.
Chief Justice Kwesi-Anin Yeboah Hon. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga MCE
The Address by Tafohene (Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV) and Kukurantumi Adontenhene (Daasebre Boamah Darko II) both expressed their pleasure to be part of the important and historic milestone in the municipality.
According to Tafohene, the Tafo Magistrate Court was established in1960 to serve the entire Abuakwa North Constituency where it operated in makeshift structures including the former Tafo Zonal Council Office block and ICT center where it had operated since 2014 till now. He therefore, indicated that the Municipality was joyful to have the Chief Justice His Lordship Kwesi Anin-Yeboah and the Acting Regional Coordinating Director to commission the District Court at Akyem-Tafo.
Daasebre Boamah Darko II Grand opening of the Court
On his part, the MCE, Hon. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga stated that, it was a relief when Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly was mentioned as one of the beneficiaries of the one hundred (100) new Court/Bungalow initiative by His Excellency the President of the Republic.
He expressed his gratitude to the President and thanked Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV and Nananom for allotting a portion of land freely for this project and also for pursuing it till completion. He also appreciated the Chief Justice and the Regional Ministers rep John Odonkor for their efforts in ensuring the municipality benefitted from court project and hoped that the judicial status of the Abuakwa North Municipality court system will be appellate to circuit court quickly for hearing of appeal cases of the District Court.
He also seized the opportunity and urged the management of the District Court to ensure effective justice delivery in the discharge of court duties to gain the trust of the people and to operate with this thinking as a guide in their daily court processes and trails.
As part of the Municipal Assembly’s schedule to engage with community members in the various electoral areas, the Municipal Chief Executive together with Heads/units of departments of the Municipal Assembly visited the various communities and electoral areas within the municipality to discuss key issues pertinent to the development of the Municipality and the nation as a whole.
Accordingly, all Hon. Assembly members in line with their functions stipulated in Section 16 of the Local Governance Act, 2006 (Act 936) organized a community engagement in the electoral areas such as Ahenbronom, Abaase, Dar-el-Salam, Mangoase, New Tafo-Ati, Obodanase and Nobi-Bayera within the Abuakwa North Municipality as a platform for the MCE and the various heads/unit of departments to engage and interact with the people, pointing out the key issues affecting them and how best such issues can be resolved.
The MCE, Hon. Umar Babs Bodinga thanked all present for taking time off their busy schedules to assemble and listen to policies and projects of the Government as well as the measures the assembly is putting in place to make life much easier for all citizens. He added that he came along with departmental and unit heads from the assembly to make presentations on programs and initiatives being carried out in every sector of the economy in the areas such as Physical planning (Town Planning), Works, Health (HIV/AIDS & COVID), NADMO, Agriculture, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Development planning, Social Welfare and Community Development among others.
The community members were also given the opportunity to present their challenge in relation to the progress of work and developments by the Assembly. The various Heads of departments and Units answered appropriately to the questions raised and also to inform members on the right processes and channels to follow to get issues resolved.
The MCE thanked all Honorable Assembly members for their efforts to organize electorates to make the exercise a fruitful one. He acknowledged the challenges of the communities and together with MCD assured the community members of the willingness of the Assembly and Government to address their issues and to complete all stalled projects. He added that his doors are always open to community members who think their Assembly members were not presenting their challenges or to suggest ideas to help in the development of their communities.
ABUAKWA NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY DISBURSED ITEMS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs)
Picture of the MCE, MCD and Head of Social Welfare Department with some beneficiaries
The Disability Common Fund (DCF) is three (3) percent of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) set aside for persons with Disability to alleviate them from poverty and improve the living conditions of the marginalized group in the society.
The Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly on Thursday 28th December, 2023 distributed some items to twenty (20) registered Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) who were approved to be given an investment support. These items provided by the Municipal Assembly were various startup kits which they requested for to aid them commence a business on their own in the Municipality.
The programme which was held at the forecourt of the Assembly premises was graced by some dignitaries, namely; Hon. Alhaji Urmar Babs Bodinga, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emil Tawiah Atsu, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs. Ansu Josephine, the Municipal Finance Officer, Honorable Elvis Yeboah, the chairman of Social Service Sub – Committee of the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly, some Hon. Assembly Members and some staff of the Assembly were present.
The allocation of resources encompassed a range of items such as, industrial sewing machine, refrigerators, pop cone machine, toiletries and among others.
Speaking to the beneficiaries, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly, Honorable Alhaji Urmar Babs Bodinga explained that the Assembly has since 2019, presented a start – up capital to the PWDs except 2021 when the country was hit by the covid pandemic.
According to the MCE, a total of two hundred and forty-five (245) out of the seven hundred (700) registered PWDs have so far benefited from the initiative which also included those on health and education scheme.
Honorable Alhaji Urmar Babs Bodinga added that the Assembly will be monitoring the beneficiaries to make sure the items are used for their intended purposes.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to support the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) administration and vote for Dr Mahamadu Bawumia in the coming 2024 general election for continuous humanitarian and infrastructural development in the Municipality.
Hon. Elvis Yeboah also noted to the beneficiaries to take very good care of themselves and equipment provided to them because when management make follow up and the equipment are not used for their purposes, it will be ceased and taken back to the Assembly.
The Municipal Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, Madam Mercy Amusah recounted the Municipal Assembly’s past experiences where some beneficiaries sold their items to other people and later ended up on the street begging for alms. She then urged the beneficiaries to carefully manage the allocated resources, thereby contributing tangibly to the socio-economic progress of the Municipality.
Expression of gratitude were shared by the beneficiaries after the distribution exercise, extolling
the Municipal Assembly for a great work done the Municipal Assembly for a great work done.
Picture of some items disbursed by the Assembly
MCE presenting an item to a beneficiary
