MICRO PROJECTS COMMISSIONED

The District Chief Executive for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Hon. Aba Edusah has commended the European Union/Government of Ghana (EU/GoG) Micro-Project Programme for its immense contribution to the socio-economic development of the district over the years.

According to the DCE, interventions by the Programme had facilitated provision of structures aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the people in the area. Among the focus of the Programme are education, water and sanitation, health and income generation.

Madam Edusah was speaking at the commissioning of projects under Phases I and II of the Sixth EU/GoG Micro-Project Programme at Batanyaa on September 8, 2009.

The projects consist of three 3-Unit Classroom blocks, twelve 10-seater vault chamber toilets, culverts for two communities and palm oil processing equipment for three communties.

The DCE said the educational infrastructure provided by EU/GoG Micro-Projects have contributed greatly to increase enrollment in schools and created healthy atmosphere for teaching and learning in the beneficiary communities while the places of convenience have also helped to improve environmental cleanliness.

She called on beneficiary communities to ensure that the facilities were well maintained to achieve the purpose for which they were provided.

The Zonal Coordinator for EU/GoG Micro-Projects Programme in charge of Central and Western Regions, Nana Nketsia Sarpong said the Programme was a community based rural development programmes aimed at assisting rural communities to have access to social facilities such as school buildings, teachers' quarters, day care centers, CHPS compounds, nurses quarters, toilets and culverts.

He noted that such facilities, when provided, resulted in increased school enrollment and also improvement in health delivery at the community level which in the long term enhanced the quality of life of the rural people.

Nana Sarpong emphasized that maintenance of the projects were very important and urged school authorities, the Parent-Teacher Associations, the District Assembly and the Ghana Education Service to make provision in the budgets for regular maintenance of school buildings.

Highlighting on the uniqueness of EU/GoG Micro-Projects, the Zonal Coordinator indicated that the type of project a community need was determined by the community itself according to the community's felt need adding that projects were, therefore, not imposed on communities by any authority.

He pointed out that in administration of Micro-Projects, beneficiary communities were empowered to make and implement decisions on their development needs.

According to Nana Sarpong, the underlying principle behind the Programme was that every beneficiary community must be willing to offer communal labour in addition to provision of sand and stones. Thereafter, all other materials as well as skilled labour cost pertaining to the facility was borne by the European Union/Government of Ghana Micro-Projects Programme.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer

YOUTH MOCK ASSEMBLY

Children in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District have appealed to policy makers to ensure regular education on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, Drug and Child Abuse to enable them make informed decisions.

According to them, the absence of such education has resulted in high teenage pregnancy rate and other social vices among the youth in the district.

The children made the appeal at the Youth Mock Assembly at Abura Dunkwa organised by National Youth Council (NYC) in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and supported by Plan Ghana on September 1, 2009. It was on the theme "Promoting and Protecting the Rights of our Children for Sustainable Development".

The programme was the sixth to be organised in the Central Region and aimed at creating a platform for the youth to discuss pertinent issues affecting them, especially adolescent reproductive health and other developmental issues. About 30 Junior High School students selected from schools in Abura Dunkwa were involved in the programme.

The Deputy National Youth Coordinator of NYC, Mr. Archibald Donkor indicated that the programme was an advocacy agenda aimed at creating a favourable platform for the youth to freely express their opinions on issues affecting their daily lives.

He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the children and called on the District Assembly to sponsor the extension of the programme to other communities in the district.

The District Chief Executive, Hon. Aba Edusah was very delighted at the performance put up by the children and entreated all children of school going age to endeavour to remain in the classroom during school hours to benefit from the expertise of their teachers.

She said a Committee had been put in place by the District Assembly to delve into the causes of poor standard of education in the district and propose solutions for implementation.

Miss Araba Neizer, A.A.K. District Director of Education expressed her delight at the wonderful performance of the children and wondered how only two from the entire 2008 Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E.) candidates could qualified to be selected to Achimota and Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High Schools.

She charged the Assembly members and Traditional rulers to see the schools in their communities as their own properties and ensure that they derive the best out of such schools.

The youth assembly presented an 11 point resolution to the District Chief Executive after their discussions and hoped that more than 70% of youth related challenges would be addressed if policy makers implemented the stated proposals.

Among the issues raised in the resolution were:

1. Regular education on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, Drug and Child Abuse by Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and the Media;
2. Bye-laws to restrict children under 18 years from visiting cinema and other entertainment centers and institute penalties for offenders;
3. Establishment of watchdog committees in various communities to report drug peddlers to appropriate authorities;
4. Creation of skill training centers to empower the youth with employable skills; and
5. Establishment of National Youth Council District Secretariat in the A.A.K. District with substantive officers to carry out youth development and empowerment programmes.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer

MY FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

The 2009/2010 academic year took off in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in grand style as the District Chief Executive, Hon. Aba Edusah visited about 12 schools on September 15 2009 to welcome and motivate children who were being admitted for the first time to Kindergarten (KG) and those being promoted from KG Two to Basic One.

A total of five teams were formed to visit various schools in the district to welcome new entrants to Basic One and KG One. The teams were led by the District Chief Executive, Hon Aba Edusah, District Director of Education, Miss Rebeca Araba Neizer, Deputy Director of Education in charge of Supervision, Mr. Isaac Nyarkoh, Assistant Director of Education in charge of Private Schools, Mr. Kweku Andoh Anderson and the District Budget Analyst, Mr. John Kwamena Afful.

At Abura Dunkwa Methodist Primary and KG where the DCE visited and interacted with the kids 32 pupils were enrolled in Basic One while 48 were also registered in KG One. At Catholic Primary and KG 36 pupils were enrolled in Basic One while 53 were recorded in KG One. Similarly, 30 pupils had been enrolled in Basic One and 8 in KG at Katakyiase Catholic Primary and KG at the time of the visit.

Addressing the children at the various schools the DCE advised them to be disciplined and obedient to their parents and teachers and study hard to become responsible leaders of the nation in future. She also tasked parents to ensure that the children attend school regularly and punctually.

Items distributed to the children included sun shades with inscription "My First Day at School", biscuits and plastic drinking cups.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer

ABURA-ASEBU-KWAMANKESE HONOUR BEST TEACHERS

The District Chief Executive for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (A.A.K.), Madam Aba Edusah has emphasized that teachers and other educational workers have very important roles to play if the government's education reforms is to succeed.

She said no education reform will succeed without the active participation of teachers in particular and other educational workers generally.

Madam Aba Edusah was speaking at the District Best Teacher Award ceremony at Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School at Brafoyaw in the A.A.K. District on 28th August 2009. Thirty-one teachers and non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service were honoured for their achievements and contributions to the development of education in the district.

The colourful occasion attracted a large number of people including Regional Managers of Educational Units, District Directors of Education in the Central Region, heads of department, teachers, students and traditional leaders.

The DCE said the government was aware of the numerous challenges of the education sector, particularly the inadequate infrastructure and low moral among teachers and gave the assurance that government would tackle them decisively and adequately motivate teachers.

She indicated that the District Assembly would play its role to raise the standard of education in the district and entreated teachers to avail themselves to the numerous opportunities to enhance their status, moral and professionalism to be able to surmount the challenges of the new education reforms.

Madam Edusah, however, cautioned teachers not to upgrade themselves academically and professionally at the expense of their pupils and students.

The District Director of Education, Miss Araba Neizer congratulated the awardees and tasked them to serve as role models in their school communities.

She said the new education reforms will succeed only when teachers were able to translate policies and objectives into measurable results and admonished teachers to produce students who do not only commit facts to memory to be reproduced during exams but also students who would be able to think and solve problems.

Miss Neizer noted that teachers were not motivated enough to give their best. She suggested to the government to come out with a policy that will have holistic view of teachers' conditions of service. She also called on District Assemblies to undertake annual appraisal of schools and teachers and institute awards for outstanding achievement in education.

The District Director expressed appreciation to Plan Ghana for their contribution towards education delivery in the district for the past 17 years and for providing all the items for presentation to the awardees. The items were 14 pieces of 21" colour TV sets, 11 gas cylinders and burners and six ghetto blasters.

The Mankessim Programme Area Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr. Sulemana Gbana said the theme for the day, "The Role of the Motivated Teacher in the new Education Reforms" perfectly explains the kind of teachers Ghana needs to be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015.

He said Plan Ghana appreciates the important role the dedicated teacher plays in the education of children for the achievement of the objectives of the new education reforms, and added that it was for this reason that the Organization supported GES to organise the function.

Mr. Gbana urged teachers in the district to see the occasion as one for all teachers and advised them to be proud of the recognition accorded them.

He said it was important to be motivated with material awards but was quick to add that the best motivating factor for teachers should be the performance of one's students. He appealed to Ghana Education Service to make conscious efforts to involve children in selection of best teachers since they were the direct beneficiaries of teachers' services.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer

DCE to Address Challenges

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Chief Executive (DCE) Miss Aba Edusah has pledged to work tirelessly to address the developmental challenges that confront the district.

According to her, the district is endowed with agriculture potentials that can be harnessed to attract the necessary investment, create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and also improve the lives of the people in the district.

She therefore, called for the total support and cooperation of all stakeholders to enable the district achieve its developmental objectives.

The pledge was made when Miss Edusah paid a courtesy call on the chief and people of Abura Dunkwa, the district capital to officially introduce herself and also discuss development issues with the people.

The DCE implored all stakeholders to support her with good suggestions and also cooperate with the Assembly to implement policies that would improve the livelihood of the people, adding that teamwork was crucial in the development agenda of the district.

She express her readiness to be a DCE for all and urged the people to feel free to discuss their problems with her.

On his part, the chief of Abura Dunkwa, Nana Osam Kwesi VII advised the new DCE to ensure that all uncompleted projects started by the previous administration were completed for the benefit of the people.

He said the community had instituted a Development Fund and outlined a number of projects, including a market complex to be financed from the Fund.

The DCE was accompanied by the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Joseph Acquaye Derben and District Planning Officer, Mr. Gabriel Akora Mfodzo.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer

Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Profile

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District was carved out of the Mfantseman District on 30th December 1988 and established by Legislative Instrument 1381. It is one of the nineteen (19) districts in the Central Region of Ghana with Abura Dunkwa as its capital

Location and Size of the District

The district has a total land area of 380 square kilometres. It is bounded on the north by Assin South District, on the south-west by Cape Coast Metropolis, north-west by Twifo Hemang-Lower Denkyira District, on teh east by Mfantseman District and on the south by a short coastal strip of 5.2 kilometres along the Gulf of Guinea.

Population

The growth and size of population is important in determining the provision of economic and social services and to address poverty in a district and for that matter the nation. According to the 2000 Population Census, the district had a total population of 90,093 represwenting 5.7% of the total population of Central Region. This was made up of 42,501 males reparesenting 47.2% and 47,592 female representing 52.8%.

The population growth rate for the district is 2.0% and the population density is 237 persons per square kilometre.

Environmental Situation

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District is basically low-lying and undulating with elevation in most parts under 80 metres above sea level. It is drained by four water bodies, namely, the Kakum River, Bruku River, the Kura River and Bankansu Spring. There are also several streams and swamps, especially in the rainy season, which join other streams and flow into rivers.

The present natural vegetation of the district consist of shrubs of about 1.5m high, grasses and few scattered trees. The original vegetaion of dense shrub, which the rainfall supported, has been replaced by secondary vegetation as a result of clearing for farming, charcoal burning, bush fires and other human activities. Currently, trees are less dense except the Kakum Game and Wildlife Reserve along the Kakum valley.

Economy

Agricuclture is the main stay of the economy and employs about 74.5% of the population (2000 Population Census Report). Nevertheless, agriculture activity is predominantly small scale farming and it includes primary production of citrus (orange and lime), oil palm fruits, coconut, food crops (maize, cassava, plantain and cocoyam) and cocoa. With regard to non-agriculture activities, retail trade and commerce, palm oil and cassava processing are important areas of economic activity.

The district has a short coastal strip along the Gulf of Guinea, about 5.2 kilometres. Moree, the only fishing community in the district is estimated to have about 68% of its population engaged in fishing. According to the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the annual catch by Moree is about 13,000 metric tons.

Investment Opportunities

Based on available resources,the District Assembly has identified a number of investment oppotunities likely to improve the income levels of the poeple and provide employment avenues for the youth. These include the following:

• Agricuclture
• Agron Processing
• Fishing
• Tourism
• Mining and Quarrying

The Assembly would like to collaborate with non-governmental organizations, relevant government agencies and other investors to invest in these areas.

Governance

The administrative and institutional arrangement of Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Assembly derives its mandate from the Local Government Act of 1993 (Act 462) and the National Development Planning Commission (System) of 1994 (Act 480). The Assembly has 43 members out of which 30 are elected by universal adult suffrage and the remaining appointed by government. It exercises political, administrative and legislative functions.

The are two Urban Councils, namely Abura Dunkwa, the district capital and Moree, the most populated community in the district. In addition to these are six Area Councils. The district has 92 Unit Committees which help the Assembly to execute its functions at the grassroot level.

The District Chief Executive is the political and excutive headf of the district, representing the central government and performing the day to day administrative functions of the Assembly. Tehe District Coordinating Director is the head of the the civil service at the district level and coordinates activities of both decentralised and quasi-government organizations.

F.A. Ebow Taylor
A.A.K. District Information Officer