SODA has delivered despite inherited challenges – Dan Akuffo

District Chief Executive for Shai Osudoku in the Greater Accra Region says despite the inherited challenges handed down his administration by the previous assembly, the Daniel Akuffo-led administration has completed most inherited projects that were either at various stages of completion or abandoned altogether.

Aside completing ongoing and abandoned projects inherited from the previous administration, the current assembly has also initiated several others which are either completed or at various stages of completion, said the DCE.

Mr. Daniel akuffo said the Shai Osudoku District Assembly (SODA) has rolled out many Flagship Programmes by the Akuffo-Addo government and projects in various sectors such as governance and security, education, health, water and sanitation, local economic development, roads, social protection and vulnerability, land use planning and management, disaster prevention and management.

The assembly chief was speaking during the meet the press series on Wednesday in Dodowa.

“I assumed office in May, 2017 with a lot of inherited challenges. The district had awarded over 40 projects that were at various stages of completion, some even abandoned,” said Mr. Daniel Akuffo. “Albeit these challenges seemed unsurmountable, with the use of resources within the District and Central Government as well as some development partners, we have been able to complete some of these projects including newly awarded ones.”

Apart from the projects, the assembly chief also disclosed that his administration, with the support of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives and others, was successfully implementing most flagship programmes of the government.

“My tenure has also seen the implementation of Flagship Programmes rolled out by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana. It is also imperative to mention the support provided by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, Ghana First Company Limited and some companies in the District, especially Golden Exotics Company Limited and Shine Feel Company Limited.

Below is the full speech delivered by the DCE, Daniel Akuffo:

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE HON. DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT THE MEET-THE-PRESS SERIES HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 2019 AT THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY’S CONFERENCE ROOM

District Coordinating Director
Heads of Institutions,
Heads of Department and Unit
The Media
Ladies and Gentleman,

It is with much pleasure to engage you this morning to discuss issues pertaining to the development of the Shai-Osudoku District.

Permit me to make mention of a few characteristics of my district. The Shai-Osudoku District is a single constituency with a population of 65,404. In terms of land space, Shai – Osudoku District is the largest in the Greater Accra Region. There are a number of tourist sites that have been identified for proper development. They include the Chenku waterfalls, Shai Hills Game Reserve, the proposed Paragliding School at Osuwem, the famous Dodowa Forest to mention but a few. The District is largely agrarian, some of the major crops include cassava, mangoes, maize and rice which is mainly grown in the Osudoku part of the District. Regarding Education, we have four (4) Senior High Schools of which two (2) are public and two (2) private.

The district can boast of one ultra-modern District hospital with a capacity of 120 beds, one private hospital, sixteen CHPS zones, twelve CHPS compounds, three Health centers, one private maternity home and one quasi-government hospital.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me present a report on my stewardship as Chief Servant of the Shai-Osudoku District. I assumed office in May, 2017 with a lot of inherited challenges. The district had awarded over 40 projects that were at various stages of completion, some even abandoned. Albeit these challenges seemed unsurmountable, with the use of resources within the District and Central Government as well as some development partners, we have been able to complete some of these projects including newly awarded ones such as the Doryumu CHPS Compound, Kongo D/A Basic School, Renovation of the District Court, Conversion of the Agomeda Post Office into a Police Post among others which were all awarded in 2018.

My tenure has also seen the implementation of Flagship Programmes rolled out by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana. It is also imperative to mention the support provided by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, Ghana First Company Limited and some companies in the District, especially Golden Exotics Company Limited and Shine Feel Company Limited.

Programmes and projects in the various sectors including Governance and Security, Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Local Economic Development, Roads, Social Protection and Vulnerability, Land Use Planning and Management, Disaster Prevention and Management in the District have also seen the light of day. Below, I present to you detailed report about the progress of work under the various sectors since the inception of my tenure.

EDUCATION

The District has been able to carry out majority of projects in this regard. My tenure has seen a total of 9 projects in the education sector with 4 completed projects and 5 ongoing ones. The projects are outlined below:
Completed Projects

• Construction of 1 No. 6-unit classroom Block with Ancillary facilities at Osuwem

• Construction of 1 No. 3-Unit Classroom Block with Ancillary facilities for Asutsuare Estate D/A Basic School

• Construction of 3-Unit Classroom Block with Ancillary Facilities at Kongo

• Renovation of 1 No. 4-Unit Classroom Block with Office and Store for Volivo D/A Basic School

Ongoing Projects

• Construction of 1No. 12 Unit Classroom Block at Lanor Osuwem

• Construction of 1No. 6 Unit Classroom Block at Agomeda

• Construction of 1No. 3 Unit Classroom Block with Ancillary Facilities at Dodowa Methodist Basic ‘B’

• Renovation/Extension of Dodowa Library

The District has also provided scholarships to some needy but brilliant students and distributed 1,750 pieces of furniture to Kindergarten pupils.

HEALTH

In relation to health, a total of 7 projects have been carried out, three of which are completed and 4 ongoing. These include:
Completed projects

• Construction of 1 No. CHPs Compound at Ayikuma

• Construction of 1 No. CHPS Compound at Doryumu

• Renovation of Asutsuare Junction CHPS Compound
Ongoing Projects

• Construction of 1 No. CHPS Compound at Dormeliam

• Construction of 1 No. CHPS Compound at Sota

• Construction of 1 No. CHPS Compound at Tokpo

• Construction of Fence Wall at Agomeda Health Centre

In addition, the District has benefitted from some Medical Equipment from the office of Her Excellency the First Lady.

WATER AND SANITATION

The District Assembly has also implemented a number of projects with its own resources as well as support from Rotary International/USAID and Global Communities. Below are the projects undertaken in this regard:

• Construction of I No. 6-Seater WC facility at Dodowa Odumase

• Construction of I No. 4-Seater Toilet facility at Dodowa Zongo

• Renovation of Dodowa Market Toilet and 3 No. Urinal

• Construction of 1 No 4-Seater Institutional Latrine at New Jerusalem D/A Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4-Seater Institutional Latrine at Kongo D/A Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4-Seater Insitutional Latrine at Abuviekpong D/A Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Manya Jorpanya D/A Basic School

• Construction of 1No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Doryumu D/A Basic A and B

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Ayenya D/A Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Ayikuma Methodist School

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Gigedokum Newtown Faith Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine Doryumu Nuhu Islamic Basic School

• Construction of 1 No 4 –Seater Institutional Latrine at Dodowa Newtown

• Construction of 3 No Boreholes at Abuviekpong and Kobisikope

• Implementation of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in 12 selected communities namely, Lomnava, Kalenya, Sepote, Ablorhkope, Akukpom, Akwadum, Morkplikope, Tankokope, Nakortukope, Sahe, Sahe Newtown and Afakope

SECURITY

The security in the district is generally peaceful with the exception of few incidences of armed robbery, land litigation and break ins. That notwithstanding, the District has also made some progress in this regard. These are outlined below:

• Renovation, Landscaping and external Works at the District Court

• Conversion of Agomeda Post Office into Police Post

• Donation of 2 No. Motorbikes to the Ghana Police Service

• Installation of Streetlights at Asutsuare and Dodowa Township

ROADS

These projects have been undertaken in relation to roads:

• Bitumen Surfacing of Dodowa Town Roads-6.7km

• Filling of Gravels, Leveling and Compacting of Osuwem to Osuyom Road

• Rehabilitation of Lomeh Bridge at Asutsuare

• Reshaping of Asutsuare Tokpo Road

• Reshaping of Dodowa-Afienya Road

• Bitumen surfacing of Ayikuma-Doryumu Road

• Award of Bitumen Surfacing of Luom-Gigedokum-Manya Jorpanya Roads by Department of Feeder Roads

• Construction of Nyapienya Cottage Farm Track and Nyapienya D/A School-Teflekope Farm Track (3.5km)

• Construction of Adakope Junction to Dunyokope Junction Feeder Road (4.2km)

Construction of railway line from Tema to Mpakadan

SOCIAL PROTECTION AND VULNERABILITY

Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP)

? Under this programme, 1,945 beneficiaries from 60 poor Communities including Asilevikope, Atsavanya, Apese, Avakpo, Dormeliam, Duffour, Fadakope, Fevlokope, Fiakonya, Forkpe, Gigedokum, Klebuse, Kortorkor, Langmedor, Lardowayor among others have received payment on LEAP

? The District has also enrolled 820 Households unto the LEAP programme district wide

Support to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

• The District Assembly has supported 359 PWDs across the district with cash and various items.

• 50 PWDs were also trained on Microfinance development.

The following items were distributed to the PWDs.

ITEM
Welding machine 1
Laptop computer 1
Commode wheel chair 1
Wheel chairs 3
Hair dryer 1
Wheel barrows 9
Deep freezer 1
Sewing machine 1
Charcoal 230
Reading Glasses 26
Tricycle wheel chair 1
Orthopaedic wheel chair 1

Support from Ghana Luxembourg Social Trust Programme

• The programme provided cash grants to poor pregnant women across 25 communities in the district

• There was also Free Registration of 4,000 poor people unto the National Health Insurance Scheme

• The programme also carried out Free Registration of 2,500 persons under 17 years with the Births and Deaths Registry

LANDUSE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

The District successfully prepared some layouts, industrial enclave and planning schemes. These include:

• Lorlorvor Industrial Enclave

• Doryumu Tachiekope Industrial Planning Scheme

• Osuwem Model City Layout

• Shai Hills Industrial and Urban Renewal Plan

These industrial enclaves have seen a troop in and operation of various industries namely Leefound Food Stuff Gh. Limited and Fuxing Industrial Company Limited etc.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Under my tenure, the following activities have been carried out:

• Community-Based Training in Batik Tie & Dye

• Entrepreneurship Mentoring by the Business Avisory Center

• Community-Based Training in Cosmetics

• Business Counselling

• Exhibition of Clients’ products at Made in Ghana Street Fair

• Support to rice seed growers at Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS) at Asutsuare

DISASTER PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT

The following programmes have been carried out in this regard:

• Support has been provided to some Disaster Victims in the form of relief items

• Collaboration with Volta River Authority to Sensitise Communities on Flooding as well as provision of Safe Havens

• Dredging in Some Selected Communities to Reduce Flood Risks

• Tree Planting and Sensitization Exercises across the district

PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS

Under this programme:

• 2,035 farmers were registered under the programme

• 12 Agro –Shops are currently stocked with subsidized seeds and fertilizers under the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme to enable farmers increase their yield (34,588 bags of fertilizer received and distributed)

• Natriku Agro-Ladies and Farmer Based Organizations have been supplied with coconut Seedlings to plant 5 Acres

• Agric Extension Officers have been supplied with field uniforms and 24 motorbikes and 1 No. pick-up to facilitate agric extension delivery

• Distribution of 575 Cockerel to 55 Farmers Under the Rearing for Food and Jobs

ONE DISTRICT ONE FACTORY

Under this programme, seven (7) Promoters have been introduced to the District by the Ministry of Trade and Industry namely Wamanye Agro Industry, Pazle Ltd, O.G FARMS, Abova water, Lan ‘T’ Soya Milk factory, Makhealth Pharmaceuticals, Biet Makwessta Ghana Limited. However, only 3 of these factories are operational. Plans are underway to meet these promoters to see the way forward regarding the development of their factories. Again, the District can boast of the construction of a Tomato and Steel Factories at the Industrial Enclave at the Shai Hills.

NATION BUILDERS’ CORPS (NaBCO)

Under this programme,185 NaBCO Trainees were posted to the Shai-Osudoku District under the various modules namely Feed Ghana, Heal Ghana, Enterprise Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Educate Ghana, Revenue Ghana and Civic Ghana. Currently, 35 out of the 185 have been absorbed into the public and civil services. 12 trainees have also been employed by private companies whilst others have voluntarily exited. Currently, a total of 138 trainees are actively at post and working at various Institutions in the Shai Osudoku District.

FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION

The introduction of the Free Senior High School has seen high enrolments in schools. Students who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to a secondary education are now benefitting. With the introduction of the Free SHS, the population in the Ghanata Senior High School and Osudoku Senior High School doubled. The District Assembly has distributed 400 pieces of furniture to Ghanata and Osutech. In addition, GETFund has awarded a contract for the construction of 1 No. 8-Unit Dormitory Block, 1 No. 6-Unit Classroom Block and 6-Unit Washroom for Ghanata Senior High School to support the Free SHS intervention. In all, the District has spent an amount of One Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty-five cedis and Forty-five pesewas (GHC 1,640,345.45) to ensure the smooth running of the Free SHS intervention.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the District with support from some ministries and companies have also been able to carry out some projects. These include:

MINISTRY OF SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES PROJECTS UNDER THE 1 CONSTITUENCY ONE MILLION DOLLARS PROGRAMME

• Construction of 1 No. 3-Unit Classroom Block with Office and Store for Dodowa Methodist D/A Basic School

• Construction 1 No. 2-Unit KG Block at Abuviekpong

• Construction of 1No. 8 Seater WC facility Dodowa Djagbletey

• Construction of 1No. 10 Seater WC Facility at Natriku

• Construction of 72 No. Open Market Sheds at Asutsuare

• Construction of 10 Seater Toilet facility at Agomeda

• Construction of 10 Seater Toilet Facility at Dodowa Tadonya

• Construction of 1 District 1 Warehouse at Manya Jorpanya

GHANA FIRST COMPANY LIMITED

Projects carried out by Ghana First Company Ltd. include:

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility Project at Dodowa Manya

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Dodowa Numersi

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Dodowa Bletum

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Dodowa Apperkon

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Asutsuare

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Asutsuare Swapo ‘A’

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Osuwem

• Construction of 20 Seater Toilet Facility for Clean Ghana Sanitation Project at Asutsuare Fadakope

INTERVENTIONS BY SOME COMPANIES IN THE DISTRICT

The Golden Exotics Company has constructed school blocks for Kasunya, Kewum and Atrobinya and a Teachers’ Bungalow at Volivo. They have also constructed a science block at Osudoku Senior High School, Vocational School at Osuwem and extension of water to Kasunya and Renovation of the Osudoku Traditional Council. Again, the Osudoku Senior High School has also benefitted from a 6-Unit Classroom Block with the help of Shine Feel Company Limited.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the District also intends to undertake some projects in the last quarter of 2019 and 2020. These are outlined below:

• Rehabilitation Of 1.2 Km Feeder Road From Duffour Junction To Duffour Using Labour Intensive Public Works Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Rehabilitation Of 1.1 Km Feeder Road From Volivo Lanor To Volivo Mafikope Using Labour Intensive Public Works Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Rehabilitation Of 1.2km Feeder Road From Avakpo Junction To Avakpo Using Labour Intensive Public Works Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Establishment Of 15 Hectare Cash Crop Plantation (Coconut And Mango) To Mitigate The Impacts Of Climate Change And To Create Employment Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Establishment Of 2 Nursery Sites And Seedling Production (Use Of Local Labour To Create Employment) Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Construction Of 2 No. Dams And 3 No. Dug Outs In Selected Communities In The District And Rehabilitation Of 1 No. Dam At Kordiabe Under The Ghana Productive Safety Net Project

• Prepare Planning Schemes/Layouts

• Construction Of 3 – Unit Classroom Block With Ict Center For Ayenya D/A Basic

• Upgrading, Spot-Improvement And Rehabilitation Of Roads

• Distribution Of Mango And Coconut Seedlings And Establishment Of Demonstration Farms

• Maintenance Of Drains

• Street Naming And Property Addressing

• Implementation Of Community-Led Total Sanitation

• Repair And Maintenance Of 60 No. Boreholes

• Support Disaster Victims And Undertake Disaster Prevention Activities

• Arrangements To Modernize And Expand The Dodowa Market

• Opening of the Proposed Business Resource Center

• Roll out of the Enabling Youth Programme under the One District One Factory at Manya Jorpanya

District Coordinating Director, Heads of Institutions, Heads of Department and Unit, The Media, Ladies and Gentleman, it is a common fact that development is a process and not an event. The basic infrastructure we have provided is an ingredient in the long term development of our district.

I wish to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for believing in me and trusting me to echo his policies in the Shai-Osudoku District. I wish to assure him that, he will never be disappointed for the confidence reposed in me as his representative of the District.

I would like to thank the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Hajia Alima Mahama and the Honourable Greater Accra Regional Minister, Honourable Ishmael Ashittey for the constant technical backstopping, for all the support in the rolling out and implementation of programmes and projects.

I would like to extend my warmest appreciation to the Minister of Special Development Initiatives, Honourable Hawa Koomson for the numerous projects that have been rolled out in the district from her outfit. My deepest appreciation also goes to Rotary International/USAID and Global Communities, Lions Club, Golden Exotics Limited, Shine Feel Ghana Limited and all our partners who endlessly support our endeavours.

I would like to commend my gallant team of Heads of Department and Unit, Institutions and Staff of the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly for supporting me and for the successes we have chalked together.

May I also seize this opportunity to express my deepest and heartfelt gratitude to my Honourable Assembly Members for their invaluable role, support, good counsel, collective effort and dedication that has contributed to moving this District to the next level of its Socio-economic and political development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to also acknowledge the contribution of my predecessors who have contributed in diverse ways towards the development of this district. Development as we are all aware is a continuous and dynamic process. They have done their bits and I wish to state that we appreciate their efforts and contributions.

I would like to assure my populace that you can count on me to fulfil all promises made to develop the Shai-Osudoku District in its entirety.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Media for honouring our invitation. Thank you for continually projecting developmental projects being undertaken by the District.

Ladies and gentlemen, For the first time, the Aayalolo Buses ply Dodowa to Accra. I would also like to use this platform to inform you of the impending referendum for citizens to decide whether or not to elect District Chief Executives. The citizenry is supposed to vote Yes or No to this referendum on 17th December, 2019. I will entreat you to votes ‘Yes’ to cement our democratic system and also to choose the best candidate to lead the District’s Development.

Let us all continue to work hard so as to sustain the achievements made in the District so far.

Thank you.