TWO years after the creation of the Sekyere Afram Plains District, the district assembly is systematically moving its development agenda forward in a bid to improve the living conditions of the people.
The district used to be part of the Sekyere East District but the vast nature of the latter necessitated its division by the former government.
Sekyere Afram Plains District shares common boundaries with other districts in the region, including Sekyere Central to the West, Sekyere East and Asante Akyem North to the south.
Besides, it also shares boundaries with other districts outside the Ashanti Region such as Kwahu North in the Eastern Region to the East and the Sene District in the Brong Ahafo Region to the north.
The district has about 106 communities and hamlets. Since its creation, the district has proudly taken steps to occupy its rightful place among the districts of the country and has potential to develop rapidly.
At the third ordinary meeting of the assembly at Kumawu recently the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr J.K. Dankwah, praised the contribution of assembly members in advancing the development process.
He, therefore, wished members who were seeking re-election the best of luck and also urged those who were not seeking re-election to put their rich experience at the disposal of the new members who will win elections.
Over the years, the Ministry of Local Government has impressed on district assemblies to place emphasis on generating funds locally to complement what comes from the central government to finance their development projects and programmes.
As a result of that, the Sekyere Afram Plains District has adopted measures to enable it to improve on its finances.
Mr Dankwah told the meeting that the assembly was able to mobilise GH¢154,879 from its local revenue sources as of September 30, 2010, representing 62 per cent of the estimated revenue target of GH¢227,134.
He said in spite of that, it had become clear that the assembly would continue to rely much on the common fund to finance most of its projects.
Mr Dankwah said the assembly had received GH¢211,353 as its share of the common fund for the second quarter of the year and the amount was being used to finance some approved projects and programmes for 2010.
The DCE urged the revenue unit of the assembly to fully implement the revenue improvement action instituted to achieve the revenue target at the end of the year.
Development projects have been key on the assembly’s agenda. In that respect, it has used part of its common fund to undertake a number of development projects.
Mr Dankwah mentioned some of the completed projects as the construction of a classroom block and office at Akrokyere, area council office at Anyinofi and a 16-seater vault chamber facility each at Wonoo and Nkwanta.
He said there had also been spot improvement on the Temate-Drobonso road, extension of electricity to the teachers’ quarters at Kumawu, Abotanso and Akrofoso,as well as the rehabilitation of the toilet facility at Apebiakyere-Kumawu.
“Ten other projects at various locations of the district have also reached various stages of completion,” he stated.
Mr Dankwah said following the assessment of the assembly by the sector ministry, it scored 74.5 per cent and in that respect, the assembly qualified to benefit from the District Development Facility.
The DCE said the assembly had since been allocated GH¢626,650 to undertake various development projects.
Already, the assembly had approved about 20 projects in a number of towns and villages for execution under the facility. They include the construction of classroom blocks, toilet facilities and rehabilitation of slaughter houses.
The assembly is also benefiting from the second phase of the Millennium Development Authority projects.
They include provision of small water systems at Abotanso and Pepease, boreholes at Dagomba and Aninagya, classroom blocks at Oyoko, Bodomase, Pepease, Drobonso and Dagomba.
Mr Dankwah further stated that the government had awarded contract for the construction of steel bridges over River Afram on the Drobonso-Dawia road, and River Pru on the Anyinofi-Ayim road.
He said when completed, the project would make accessibility to the Afram Plains easier, thus improving the collection of fees from farm products in the Afram Plains.
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