Following government directive regarding the disbursement and use of the Persons With Disability (PWD) share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly has distributed economic and income generation items to 438 PWDs out of a total of 1, 551 registered PWDs in the district.
“So far we have registered one thousand five hundred and fifty-one PWDs district wide. Out of this number, four hundred and thirty-eight people have benefited for the program. Some of these people have been given farm inputs, fertilizers, sewing machines among others,” the District Social Welfare Director has said.
Speaking at a community participation in inclusive development planning forum in Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly Tuesday, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Odjao Felix warned beneficiaries not to sell any of the items presented to them since the Assembly will monitor to ensure the delivery achieved its intended purpose.
Order to prosecute ineligible beneficiaries
The Social Services subcommittee chairperson of the Assembly Hon. John Kweku noted that their beneficiary list is pregnant with unqualified persons who have benefitting from the fund since 2009.
He further revealed that some of the persons are above age 65 and abnormal or normal.
Hon. Felix Odjao has however, ordered that the committee’s report on the matter should be submitted to EXECO for it to prosecute the culprits at court since the act constitutes stealing of public funds.
Security Situation in the District
In the words of Chief Inspector Ablakwa, the command has 65 police officers and two Nissan Patrol vehicles manning four police posts namely; Asesewa, Oterkpolu, Otrokper and Sekesua.
He appealed to the public to support the police in all forms to improve the security in the district since they have limited resources.
In a related development, the public has also pleaded with the police to take complaints brought before them seriously so the community could get confidence in the police.
Inspector Ablakwa assured the gathering, the police in the district in collaboration with the District Assembly is going to strengthen foot and mobile patrols to ensure the district enjoys a robbery free Christmas.
The DCE, Hon. Felix Odjao on his part pledged that his outfit will expedite action to ensure the speedy completion of the rehabilitation of the Akateng police post and handover by early next year.
On his part, Mr. Walter, the Fire Service Commander for the district said who expressed regret at the rate of bush fires in the district described the phenomenon as a threat to food security in the district. According to him, in 2017, 99% of farms in the district got burnt due to deliberate action by farmers and hunters.
In same regards, he expressed worry over likely fire outbreaks awaiting residents of Akateng.
The fire expert says blamed the incidents on fisher folks in the area who store premix fuel in their bed rooms, a practice he said could cause entire community fire disaster.
Settlement and Layout
The land tenure system, size of land and low level of education in respect of layout and town planning are making it difficult to implement plans and programs drawn by the Physical planning department, the Physical Planning Dirctor, Mr. David Kwesi said.
“That notwithstanding, the department is doing what it could to sensitize the communities to come for permit before building a house,” he noted.
The District Chief Executive, Hon. Felix Odjao admitted successive governments and the entire district have failed in the battle for proper layout and physical planning.
“David, accept it that we have failed. I can’t say my regime is not part or not under your leadership, but the truth is that the Assembly and the community members have failed in this fight, and we must accept it,” he told the planning officer.
Community participation in decision making and planning is an empowerment program organized by a civil society organization, Youth and Women Empowerment (YOWE) in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal.
With funding from STAR Ghana Foundation, the program has created opportunities for citizens to question leaders on policies, programs and projects that affect their lives and also add their views, opinions and wish on the way they want governance to be ran.
Source: Omanba Kodwo Boafo/ritefmonline.org
