Agona West Municipal Assembly

AGONA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY

2015 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (APR)

COMPILED BY:

MUNICIPAL PLANNING COORDINATING UNIT (MPCU) FEBRUARY, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

District Profile 2 - 13

M & E Activities Report

Update on Core Municipal Indications & Targets 14 - 17

Update on Disbursements from Funding Sources 17 - 19

Update on Critical Development and Poverty Issues 19 - 24

Programme/Projects status for the Year 2015 25

1. DISTRICT PROFILE

1.1 Establishment Agona West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) was created out of the former Agona District Assembly (ADA) on 25th February, 2008 by LI 1920. AWMA is one of the twenty (20) political and administrative districts in the Central Region of Ghana. AWMA has 1 Urban Council – Nyarkrom Urban Council (LI 1967) and 5 Zonal Councils.

1.2 Vision and Mission Statement 1.2.1 Vision To become a well-developed Municipal Assembly that provides and facilitates excellent services to its people to ensure improvement in the quality of life of its people. 1.2.2 Mission Statement The Agona West Municipal Assembly exists to facilitate the improvement in the quality of life of the people in close collaboration with the private sector and other development partners in the Municipality through the mobilization and the judicious use of resources and provision of Basic Socio-Economic Development within the context of Good Governance.

1.3 Physical Characteristics 1.3.1 Location and Size Agona West is situated in the eastern corner of the Central Region within latitudes 5030’ and 5050’N and between longitudes 0035’ and 0055’W.cIt has a total land area of 447 square kilometers. The Municipality is divided into six (6) sub-districts or Town/Area Councils. The Municipality is bordered to the North by Agona East, to the South by Gomoa East and to the Northwest and West by Asikuma, Odoben, Brakwa and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Districts (Map 2). The Municipal capital, Swedru, is at a nodal point of roads radiating to the rich cocoa growing areas of the Central Region. Swedru is approximately twenty-four kilometers North of Winneba.

Map 1: Municipality in National Context Map 2: Agona West in Regional Context

Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017) Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017)

1.3.2 Relief and Drainage Agona West has a diversified relief with altitudes varying between 75-150 meters above sea level with the highest point being 350 meters. Agona West has undulating and sloppy topography from north to south with isolated hillocks in the north- east, most of which are made up of granite rocks. The main river which primarily drains through the Municipality is Akora River. There are other small rivers like Abena, and Enchiwi, which could be useful for purposes of irrigation.

1.3.3 Soil and Land Use

The major soil type found in the Municipality is classified as Forest ochrosols. These soils are alkaline and richly supplied with nutrients which make them suitable for cultivating varied agricultural produce like cocoa, citrus and coconut. Typical forest food crops like plantain, banana, cassava, cocoyam and maize. Vegetable and sugar cane cultivation is widespread. Agriculture occupies most of the land use; however, certain areas are devoted to forestry and community settlements.

1.3.4 Climate and Vegetation

Generally, the Municipality lies in the wet semi-equatorial climate zone. It has two main crop growing seasons: a bio-modal pattern of rainfall with the maxima occurring in May/June and September/October. The annual rainfall figure lies within the range of 1000mm – 1400mm. The dry season starts in December and ends in March with the highest mean monthly temperature of 33.80 occurring between March/April and the lowest of about 29.40 C in August. The area falls within the moist tropical and semi-deciduous forest with a lot of valuable timber trees like mahogany, sapele, silk cotton, wawa and odum. Due to over logging, most of the timber trees are no more. The most predominant and giant tree left is the silk cotton. The recent award of concessions for the harvesting of this tree poses the greatest ecological danger to the environment. Afforestation, particularly the cultivation of teak and other forest trees would become very important economic ventures in future.

1.4 Demographic characteristics

1.4.1 Population According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the Agona West Municipality has an estimated total population of 115,358 with female slightly dominating at an estimated population of 61, 199 while male population was estimated at 54,159. The population of the major settlements in the Municipality is shown in Figure 1.

Table 1: Population of Major Settlements in the Municipality

S/N SETTLEMENT POPULATION

1. Swedru 55,239 2. Nyakrom 18,666 3. Bobikuma 7,980 4. Abodom 6,576 5. Kwaman 3,846 6. Nkum 3,073 7. Wawase 1,588 8. Otsenkorang 1,076 9. Adukori 891 10. Oteprow 878 11. Ahomadonko 745 12. Odomu 736 13. Dadzie 735 14. Nkwantanando 729 15. Kukurantumi 599 16. Bosompa 600 17. Jukwafum 510 18. Amponsahkrom 506 19. Nkranfo 485 20. Nsonan 467

Source: 2010 Population and Housing Census

1.4.2 Population Size and Growth Rates The population growth rate was 2.656% in 1984. About 40% of the populace were children. In 1960, the population of the area forming the current Agona District was 82,607 and growing at an annual rate of 0.6% it reached 87,446 in 1970 and by 1984 the total population was 122,631 showing an annual growth rate of 2.66% between 1970 and 1984(source: 1996-2000 Medium 4

Term Development Plan page 14). With the current (2010) population estimated at 115358. The annual growth rate between 2000 and 2010 is 2.8 per annum

The Agona Municipality growth rate of 2.8% is higher than both the national and regional growth rates of 2.5% and 3.1% respectively. The above picture shows that the Municipality is experiencing a continual rise in the growth rate as it has shown a rise from 0.6% in 1960 to the present rate of 2.8%. The rapid increase is more importantly the result of both high birth rate and a considerably reduction in mortality as well as high in-migration rate. Though these are encouraging, the increasing population in the Municipality will place a growing strain on the municipality’s resources and create serious problems for the Municipal Assembly in particular and the central government in general.

1.4.3 Age-Sex Structure of Population The age and sex structure of the Municipal population shows that the population is predominantly female (53.1%), with males forming about 46.9%.

1.5 Economic and Occupational Characteristics The resource base of the Municipality is determined by the natural resources of the area. This has made the Municipality economy predominantly agricultural oriented. The climate, soil and labour base of the Municipality is agricultural biased. As a result of this, all the products of the Municipality are mainly agriculture outputs. Cash crop production dominates all farming activities of the Municipality e.g. cocoa, citrus, oil palm and coconut. There are a few deposits of clay and gold but not to support commercial production and exploitation. Agriculture is the major economic activity in Agona West and engages more than 64% of the Municipal population.

1.6 Health Status Some of the health hazards are principally malaria and gastro intestinal diseases. HIV/AIDS is slowly rearing its head in the Municipality. Programmes would actively be undertaken to control this current health hazard. The approach would be similar to the national policy to reduce the pandemic. The top ten (10) diseases and their number of reported cases are as indicated in Table 2.

Table 2: Top 10 Diseases in the Municipality S/N DISEASE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES 1. Malaria 11,544 2. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections 11,963 3. Anaemia 4,989 4. Diarrhoea Diseases 2,963 5. Acute Eye Infection 3,175 6. Skin Diseases 1,926 7. Acute Urinary Tract Infection 1,798

8. Hypertension 1,829 9. Rheumatism and Other Join Pains 1,703 10. Intestinal Worm 1,696 Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2015

Table 3: Health Indicators INDICATORS 2012 2013 2014 2015 OPD Attendance 79,966 89,825 108,434 154,212 Under 5 Death 60 46 41 48 Total Death 414 350 315 326

Total Admissions 12,503 11,785 12,622 11,869 Insured Patient 57,929 63,949 88,277 133,374 Non-Insured 22,637 25,876 20,157 20,838

Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2015

1.7 Education

There has been an increase in enrolment in Basic Schools in the Municipality. The general increase in enrolment in response to Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education has been tremendous. Reasons for the increase in enrolment of school going age pupils could be based on the following interventions.  Improvement in infrastructure like public buildings and furniture through Social Investment Fund (SIF), Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and European Union (EU).  Improvement in water and sanitation facilities in public schools through Community Water Sanitation Agency (CWSA)  The introduction of the capitation grant

The challenges of education in the Municipality are:

 Reforms Management and  School Information Improvement;  Teacher development, deployment and supervision;  Special partnership programmes with non-state actors.

1.8 Environmental Situation

Poor waste disposal situation in the Agona West Municipality has been caused by inefficient and inadequate infrastructure facilities, especially insufficient drainage and toilet facilities. In some of the communities, refuse disposal points have become terminals for open defecation. The pile of refuse grows into unsightly mountains because the Municipal Assembly is unable to cope with the problem.

The illegal activities of chain-saw operators, charcoal and firewood merchants have resulted in deforestation since the fuel wood related activities are not based on sustainable exploitation of forest resources and thus posing a threat to ecological stability and sustainable environmental development. Traditional farm management practices, to wit, slash-and-burn; reduced fallow periods; reduced crop rotation cycles and the absence of agro-forestry practices among others have resulted in erosion on farmlands.

One major environmental problem especially in the villages is inter-house soil erosion. The foundations under several houses are exposed thus posing danger to life and property since many of these buildings are constructed with laterite. Due to misuse and mismanagement of water bodies, for example dumping of refuse and soapy water into them largely due to ignorance and conservatism there is water pollution in some of the settlements. Air pollution in some settlements is caused by poor sanitary conditions arising from piles of rotting refuse.

1.9 Agona West Poverty Profile

Poverty is defined as a situation where an individual or a household is not able to command sufficient resources to satisfy the basic needs of life such as food, shelter, clothing, health, education etc.

The poor in Agona West are mainly Subsistence farmers with land holdings of between one- quarter of an acre and two acres; The Destitute; The unemployed and the under-employed; The vulnerable: women, children, the aged, the illiterate and the disabled who are vulnerable to risk and other social upheavals like chieftaincy conflicts and domestic violence, as well as inability to easily access the few good jobs.

1.10 Causes of Poverty in Agona West Municipality 1.10.1 High rate of unemployment In 2012, under the youth employment programme, 350 youth were registered and out of the figure, 200 (57%) have been offered jobs.

1.10.2 Inaccessible Credit Facilities The people do not have access to available credit because of (i) inadequate information on such credits (ii) high lending rates (iii) non-existence of well-established associations, cooperatives or groups to serve as sources of loans and credit (iv) problems of accessibility to the hinterland:

1.10.3 Mismanagement of the Available Resources There are scenes of physical environmental degradation in the form of deforestation through poor farming practices, bushfires and sand winning in the Municipality.

1.10.4 Lack of Storage Facilities Post-harvest losses are great in the Municipality, compelling farmers to offer their produce at relatively low prices. The dominant methods for storage are traditional barns and smoking.

1.10.5 No Irrigation System There are no irrigation systems in the Municipality that will enable farming to be perennial. There are only three small group farmers engaged in some form of irrigation using dugouts for vegetable farming.

1.10.6 Ignorance and Strong Adherence to Negative Traditional and Religious Beliefs and Practices These include widowhood rites in the Municipality that keep women out of productive activities for a period of six weeks. In places like Babianeha, palm branches are not allowed in the Community. There are too many taboo days in the Municipality that prevents people from going to work. However, such days are used to attend hospitals, durbars, to meet public officers for information, communal labour etc.

1.10.7 Collapse of the Cash Crop Industry The cocoa industry has virtually collapsed. The Municipality used to be the leading producer of cocoa in the Central Region, as a result of which the Swedru Secondary School and the regional office of COCOBOD were built.

1.11 Coping Strategies

The poor in Agona Municipality have nevertheless coped with the harsh conditions. Some of the strategies adopted by the poor to cope with the situation include:

. Resorting to child labor to support the family budget; . Illegal exploitation of natural resources: This takes the form of lumbering, sand winning and farming within forest reserves. For instance the Municipality has almost depleted the exploitation of its timber species. The only economic tree species of any importance available for exploitation are ceiba pentendra (Onyina). Most of the timber species were depleted due mainly to over exploitation by illegal means. . Resorting to high interest rate loans: due to non-availability of credit, people are forced to resort to money lenders who at times charge 100% interest rate. . Incidence of arm robbery, theft, sakawa (Internet fraud) and Domestic violence cases are reported in the Municipality. . Prostitution: This is very rampant in an area called 50-50 in Dwenewoho at Swedru.

To offset the harsh conditions of poverty in the Municipality, the Agona West Municipal Assembly in collaboration with some Non-Governmental Organizations has taken positive initiatives to improve the standard and quality of living standard among the populace.

1.12 Economic Potentials The Agona West Municipal Assembly has a lot of economic potentials in the form of both natural and man-made as displayed in Table 3. The most spectacular is the presence of markets in most major towns to promote trade and commerce. The Municipality produces large quantities of cassava, maize, plantain, cocoyam and vegetables. Cocoa, palm oil and coffee are also produced.

Granite for the production of quarry stone for all types of construction abound. Wining of sand occurs in several parts of the Municipality, particularly, Swedru. Palm kernel oil is processed into local soap in several of the large communities. Distillation of local gin is predominant in the Abodom and Kukurantumi areas. Swedru is home to a number of hotels of international status where workshops and conferences are held. There are important second cycle educational institutions. The Municipality is well served by major trunk roads and health facilities.

Table 4: Economic Potentials in Agona West Municipality

RESOURCE SPECIFICS LOCATION

NATURAL RESOURCES FORESTS Timber Products All Town/Area Council Areas Fuel wood All Town/Area Council Areas MINERALS Gold All Town/Area Council Areas Clay All Town/Area Council Areas Granite Kwaman AGRICULTURE FOOD CROPS Cassava, maize All over the Municipality Vegetables Abodom, Bobikuma plantain, Nkum, Ahamadonko, Nsuansa cocoyam, Nkum, Ahamadonko, Nsuansa, Otsenkorang

beans Otsenkorang CASH CROPS Coffee Adukrom, Abodom Oil Palm All over the Municipality Citrus Kwaman, Nyakrom Coconut All major towns INDUSTRIES FOOD PROCESSING Corn milling All major towns Sugarcane crushing All major towns Gari Processing All major towns Palm Oil extraction All major towns LIGHT&HEAVY INDUSTRIES Soap making All major towns Distillery All major towns Hotels Swedru Historical Places All major towns Religious Places Kwaman Shrines All major towns INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH Hospital Swedru Private hospital Swedru Health centre All major towns Private Clinics Swedru EDUCATION Day nurseries All major towns Basic schools All major towns Junior High schools All major towns Swedru School of Business Swedru Nyakrom Senior High/Tech Nyakrom

Trunk road All major towns Ordinary road All major towns Feeder roads All small communities TRANSPORTATION Running fleet of taxis cars All major towns buses, cargo vehicles etc.

Source: AWMA Records, 2015 1.13 Climate Change 1.13.1 Objectives  To assist the 6 sub Municipal areas to implement and sustain climate change issues (adaptation and mitigation) in the local planning processes.  To facilitate and sustain the integration of climate change and disaster risk reduction into municipal development planning processes.  To create and deepen awareness about the critical role of climate change and disasters in the Municipality development efforts

Municipal Development Goals could be hampered by ignoring Climate and disaster risk reduction issues and Much less attention has been paid to making development more resilient to climate change, its related disasters and impacts.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

1.13.2 Some Critical Areas for Consideration • Energy • agriculture and food security issues • disaster management, • water management, • education • health, • livelihoods, • coastal zone management, • land use planning and • infrastructure designing • Tourism • mitigation and adaptation • Extreme Weather events

• Droughts • Floods • Storms • Vulnerabilities and Risks

1.14 Art and Culture

1.14.1 Social and Ethnic Structure of the Municipality The indigenous people of the Municipality are the ‘Agonas’. Over the years they have co-existed with other prominent minority migrants such as Obutus, Gomoas, Ewes, Effutus, Fantis, Kwahus, Atakpames, Kontokoris and several ethnic groupings of Northern Ghana origin.There is no existing documentation on the ethnic structure of the Municipality but local estimates of the migrant population is about 10% to 30% (4-Year Integrated MTDP (2010-2013).

Apart from Swedru (the Municipal capital) to which people are attracted due to the existence of public and private sector business activities, Otsenkorang Area Council also has a high migrant population due to the cocoa industry. Here, migrants outnumber the indigenes by a ratio of 4:1 (source: 1996-2000 MTDP). Kwahus and Gomoas dominate in cocoa farming. Despites the high number of different ethnic groups, the Municipality has a strong social integration from the diverse ethnic groups. The groups intermarry and participate in shared cropping arrangements under the existing land tenure systems, especially the ‘Abunu’ and ‘Abusa’ which are commonly practiced. This has promoted solid social bonds and economic ties between migrant tenants and their indigenous landlords. It also makes it easier for tenants to acquire land for farming.

1.14.2 Festivals and Funerals

Festivals are important in the social life of the people in Agona West Municipality. The “Akwambo” festival is the most important traditional festival instituted for the spiritual reunion of the people. It is celebrated every year between August and October. As a social festivity, it is also an occasion where communities plan their developmental activities including strategies for mobilizing funds for project implementation.

Funeral rites that provide solemn occasions for sober reflection have also become occasions that bring people together. It is one single most important event that brings the youth home to mourn with their people. It also enable the youth visit their old parents. Business in mourning cloth is quite brisk, particularly, Swedru.

1.14.3 Marriage and Inheritance

The people of Agona practice the matrilineal inheritance system. Female children in the extended family under this system are considered important for the survival of the family as a unit. Inheritance is therefore passed on from brothers to their sisters’ children (nephews and nieces). Female share of labour and contributions to the family income from agriculture is quite substantial.

Polygamy is a common social characteristic in the Municipality, particularly in less urban and farming communities. Some of the reasons for polygamy mentioned include:

1. The wide disparity of the male-female ratio reaching as high as 1:3 in some localities 2. Inadequate opportunities for women compelling them to seek early marriage as teenagers 3. The tendency of some men to use female labour on their farms

1.14.4 Religion

The inhabitants of Agona West are highly religious. The dominant religion is Christianity. Other religions such as Islam and Traditional worship also exist in the minority. Religious groups found in the Municipality co-exist peacefully. The larger Christian population in all Urban, Town and Area Councils makes the church a possible forum for information dissemination on community/group mobilization for development in the Municipality. All other religious groups observe the taboos in the Municipality. These taboos, which are considered to have socio-economic and spiritual importance, include regulation of farming days, land use, water resources use and control and adhesion to some social norms. There are non- farming taboo days in every Urban, Town and Area Council as depicted in Table 6.

Table 5: Taboo Days in Agona West Municipality

Urban/Town/Area Taboo D a y s Council Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Swedru Nyakrom  Otsenkorang   Bobikuma  Nkum  Abodom 

Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017) Taboos in Agona West also help in the protection of the forests and the fragile ecosystem through the creation of sacred grooves, which are known popularly as “Nananom Mpow” in the Municipality. Taboo days also assist in fixing community dialogue meetings.

2. UPDATE ON CORE MUNICIPAL INDICATORS AND TARGETS

NO ACCELERATED 2015 2015 . AGRICULTURE Indicator Target MODERNIZATION & AGRO- BASED INDUSTRIAL Level DEVELOPMENT 1. Per capital production Maize 24,870.25mt Not Available of key staple Cassava 76,619.24mt Not Available Foods Plantain 12,882.45mt Not Available (Crops, Livestock Cocoyam Not Available Not Available and fish) in Yam Not Available Not Available Kg/annum Rice Not Available Not Available of animal/annum ANIMAL Sheep 6,259 Not Available Goat 7,324 Not Available Cattle 314 Not Available 2. Proportion/length of roads maintained/Rehabilitated

- Truck Roads (in km) - Urban Roads (in Not Available km)Highway - Feeder Roads (in km)Authority 3. Hectares of degraded forest/ mining /dry and wet lands

rehabilitated/restored

a. Forest Not Available b. Mining c. Dry and wetland 4. Teledensity/Penetration rate:

DEVELOPING THE HUMAN 2015 2015 RESOURCES FOR Indicator Target DEVELOPMENT Level 5. HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (% of 0.0% 0.0 adult population. 15-19 yrs. HIV Positive) 6. Maternal Mortality ratio (Number 17 per 100,000 live 0.0 of deaths due to pregnancy and births (0.0005) childbirth per 100,000 live births) 7. Under-five mortality rate (Number (48/26877) x 1000 0.0 of Deaths occurring between birth

and exact age five per 1000 live births) 8. Malaria case fatality in children (5/5375) x 10,000 0.0 under five years per 10,000 population 9. Percentage of population with 80.53% 73 sustainable access to safe water sources 10. Gross Enrolment Rate (Indicates the number of pupils/students at a

given level of schooling-regardless of age as proportion of the number of children in the relevant age group) - Primary 114.5% 122.7% - JHS 91.0% 93.4% - SHS - -

Net Admission Rate in Primary Schools (indicates 35.0% 70.7% Primary One enrolment of pupils aged 6 years)

11. Gender Parity Index (Ratio between girls and boys enrolment

rates, the balance of parity is 1.00 - - KG 0.99 0.961.00 - Primary 1.12 0.971.0 - JHS - - 0.83 - SHS Proportion of unemployed youth benefiting from

skills/apprenticeship and entrepreneurial training Proportion of Youth Registered 12. Proportion of Youth Employed Not Available 13 Not Available 14. Number of reported cases of abuse (children, women and men) - Children 5 15 - Women 3 10 - Men - 15. Training programme for Assembly 17 29 Staff TRANSPARENT AND 2015 2015 ACCOUNTABLE Indicator Target GOVERNANCE Level 16. Total amount of internally GH¢ 1,325,866.69 generated revenue

17. Amount of Development Partner GH¢1,028,134.76 and

NGO funds contribution to DMTDP

Implementation 18. % of DA expenditure within the DMTDP budget (How much of

DA’s expenditure not in the annual budget?)

REDUCING POVERTY AND 2015 2015 INCOME INEQUALITIES Indicator Target Level 19. % increase in tourist arrivals N/A SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR

EXPANDED DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE % of population with access to improved sanitation (flush toilets, 20. KVIP, household latrine) 42.1% 21. % of households covered by 67.02% 100% Electricity supply

3. UPDATE ON DISBURSEMENT FROM FUNDING SOURCES (GH¢)

2012 2013 2014 2015 TOTAL DACF 1,564,499.94 716,807.23 754,103.03 1,566,514.16 4,601,924.36 IGF 685,592.51 951,305.41 1,275,681.57 1,325,866.69 2,912,579.49 HIPC Funds 500,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 - 550,000.00 SPECIAL - - - 807,055.30 FUND 807,055.30

GoG Grants 60,084.78 1,268,935.28 121,247.50 - 1,450,267.56 Donor 163,045.45 1,186,320.61 1,296,784.29 1,028.134.76 - 4,021,758.72 Grant - 347,473.61

Total 2,973,222.68 4,495,842.14 3,472,816.39 4,727,570.91 14,343,585.43 Amount

3.1 Adequacy of Funds

District Assembly Common Fund (DACF)

The amount of DACF released to the Municipality for the year under review fall short of what was budgeted for in view of the series of deductions made by the Common Fund Administrator in addition to the late release of the Funds. 3.1.2 Internally Generated Fund (IGF)

The IGF generated by the Assembly was not up to its target for the year under consideration, measures have been put in place to increase the Internally Generated Fund of the Assembly as outlined in item 3.2. 3.1.3 HIPC Funds No funds was released for the reporting year which is woefully bad.

3.1.4 Government of Ghana Grant The Government of Ghana’s Grant in support of its development activities which has played a major role in the development of the Municipality was not released.

3.1.5 Donor Grants Donor grant’s contribution towards the development of the Municipality amounted to GH¢ 4,021,758.72. The inadequacy of the funds calls for more funds to facilitate the developmental agenda of the Municipality.

3.2 Effort to Generate Funds  Street Naming and Property Addressing System  Preparation of Revenue Improvement Action Plan  Construction of Revenue Booth at Swedru  Formation of task force to collect revenue on both temporarily and permanent structures 18

 Establishment of Management Information System office to provide accurate data base for all ratable properties within the Municipality  Organization of public education on tax responsibility  Setting of target for revenue collectors  Training of revenue collectors and city guards on strategies for enhancing revenue mobilization  Provision of revenue charts  Weekend’s collection  Turning the weekly Mandela Market at Swedru into a daily market

3.3 Other Challenges with Regards to Generating Funds  Uncooperative attitude of tax payers  Untimely release of DACF  Under invoicing by some revenue collectors

4. UPDATE ON CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ISSUES

Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) 4.1 Introduction The Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) Programme is a social cash transfer programme which provides cash and health insurance to extremely poor households across Ghana to alleviate short-term poverty and encourage long term human capital development. LEAP started a trial phase in March 2008 and then began expanding gradually in 2009 and 2010. As of July 2013, the programme had reached over 70,000 households across Ghana with an annual expenditure of approximately USD20m. The program is funded from general revenues of the Government of Ghana (50 percent), donations from DFID and a loan from the World Bank. It is the flagship programme of Ghana's National Social Protection Strategy and is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP).

There are 573 beneficiaries from 22 communities in the Municipality. Males benefiting from the programme in the Municipality are 116 with 457 Females.

NUMBER OF DEVELOPING HUMAN RESOURCE 2015 2015 FOR DEVELOPMENT Indicator Level Target Number of reported cases of abuse Children 5 15 (Children, women and men) Women 3 10 Men -

4.2. Beneficiaries of LEAP in the municipality by Community Beneficiary Communities Males Females Total Odom 4 14 18 Edukrom 14 18 32 Kwaman 6 35 41 Lower/Upper Bobikuma 21 82 103 Abodom 14 40 54 Abigyakrom 5 15 20 Kukurantumi - 4 4 Otabilkrom 5 26 31 Mantsemankebi 3 6 9 Nkranfo 2 21 23 Mangoase 1 2 3 Wawase 2 25 27 Bebianiha 12 28 40 Dwenho 7 30 37 Nkubem - 1 1 Nyakrom - 1 1 Old Zongo - 26 26 Yaabem 10 60 70 Domeky 10 13 23 Agya Abusua - 7 7 Egyabreso - 2 2 Anchiase - 1 1 Total 116 457 573 Source: Department of Social Welfare, AWMA, 2015.

5. SCHOOL CAPITATION GRANTS

5.1.1 Introduction The educational situation in Ghana has improved over the years. Quantity and quality of Schooling has improved. In spite of this, the country had not achieved total coverage of all school going age children. In a bid to fulfill its commitment to achieving the goal of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and its commitment to the United Nations goal of universal primary education by 2015 and the Millennium Development Goals on education, the government of Ghana introduced the capitation grant during the 2004/2005 academic year. The capitation grant covers the extra cost and levies (such as examination, facilities management, security charges, games and sports) that parents usually pay as ‘school fees’ in public schools.

5.1.2 Release of the Grant A total amount of GH¢ 36,055.00 was released in 2014/2015 academic year which is the 3rd tranche for the 2013/2014.

5.1.3 Monitoring the Usage The Internal Audit Unit of the Ghana Education Service in the Municipality monitors the usage of the grant. Various forms are used in the release and usage of the grant among which are:

1. Request Form 2. Advance Form 3. Accounting for Advance Form 4. Honour Certificate 5. Monthly Expenditure Returns

5.1.4 Main Challenges  Delay in the release of funds  Inequality in the distribution of the grant  Chunk of the grant going into games and culture  Inadequacy of the amount per pupil

5.2 GHANA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

5.2.1 Introduction The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) commenced in 2005 with the objective of reducing hunger and malnutrition; increasing school enrollment, retention and attendance and to boost local food production. The GSFP is an initiative under the comprehensive Africa

Agricultural Development Pillar 3 seeks to enhance food security and reduce hunger in line with the UN-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 5.2.2 Release of the Grant In the 2014/2015 academic year, a total amount of GH¢233,923.00 was disbursed. In all, 4,904 pupils (2,364 males and 2,540 females) were fed in the 2014/2015 academic year.

5.2.3 Number of People’s Fed for 2015 S/N Schools Number of beneficiaries Male Female Total 1. Nyamendam AMA KG Prim School 73 85 158 2. Ahamadonko AMA Basic Primary 150 166 316 3. Abodom Anglican Basic School 206 198 404 4. Bobikuma Catholic Basic School 145 171 316 5. Mansokwaa Kioharts AMA Primary 125 110 235 6. Nkum Presby KG Primary 132 158 290 7. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”A” Primary 84 88 172 8. Bobikuma Anglican 168 169 337 9. Kukurantumi AMA KG Primary 163 136 299 10. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”B” Primary 80 89 169 11. Odomu AME Basic School 84 96 180 12. Kesewa/Ekwaboman AMA KG & Prim 125 121 246 13. Nkranfo AMA Basic School 122 130 252 14. Nkum AMA Basic School 231 300 531 15. Kwaman Methodist Prim/KG 181 201 382 16. Nyakrom Presby School 143 182 325 17. Abigyakrom AMA Basic 152 140 292 Total 2,364 2,540 4,904 Source: Ghana Education Service, AWMA 2015

5.2.4 Monitoring the Usage a. Two (2) unannounced visits to beneficiary schools per term b. School Implementation Committee (SIC) under the Programme has been rekindled in beneficiary schools.

5.2.5 Main Challenges  Delay in the release of feeding grant from the National Headquarters  Inadequate per capita per pupil  Lack of kitchens in some beneficiary schools  Situations where pupils from non-beneficiary schools have enrolled in beneficiary schools, thereby bringing pressure to bear on the facilities in the receiving schools

5.2.6 Distribution of School Furniture During the period under review the following furniture were distributed to various schools in the Municipality. TYPE OF FURNITURE TOTAL Mono Desk 1713 pcs Dual Desk 1000 set pcs Kindergarten desk Nil Senior High School desk Nil Office Table and Chair 350 pcs Total 3063 Source: AWMA, 2015. In spite of the furniture that were supplied, the Government in his quest to ensure quality education, there were also supply of the following items from the Central Government during the period under review to motivate pupils, teachers and administrators. Item Quantity Teachers Laptop 30pcs Teachers Notebooks 975pcs Class Attendance Register 1192pcs White Chalk 5625 boxes My 1st Day at School (small bags) 250pcs White Chalk (Municipal Assembly) 50 boxes School Uniforms 699pcs Litter Bin (Municipal Assembly) 20pcs Teaching Syllabus 465pcs P. 2 Language Exercise Books 4723pcs Tables and Chairs (Municipal Assembly) 7 set pcs Source: AWMA, 2015.

5.3 MUTUAL HEATH INSURANCE SCHEME 5.3.1 Introduction The introduction of Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) in Ghana was very much influenced by the introduction of user fees in 1984 which resulted in difficulties in affording the cost of health care and loss of revenue for many hospitals. The Challenges within the health sector prompted some health care facilities, mainly mission hospitals, to introduce insurance schemes managed jointly with communities. The Government of Ghana in an effort to offset the challenges commissioned various studies into alternative health financing, principally insurance based.

National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) bill passed into law in 2003, provided the basis for the establishment of MHIS at the district level in Ghana to improve access to and quality of basic health care services in Ghana through the establishment of mandatory district-level MHIS.

5.3.2 Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme’s Annual Performance for 2015

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY MEMBERSHIP Estimated Total Active Membership 62,010 Male 23,820 Female 38,190 Informal Sector 20,016 SSNIT Contributors 4,522 SSNIT Pensioners 1,728 Indigents 573 Under 18 Years 28,153 70 Years/Above 2,473 Pregnant Women 4,545 New Membership Registration 30,015 Membership Renewal 30,457 Number of Health Providers 21 Total Attendance (January – August, 2015) 152,195 Out-Patient (January – August, 2015) 142,412 In-Patient (January – August, 2015) 10,783 Claims Paid (January – May, 2015) GH¢ 2,500,474.97 Source: Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, 2015. 5.3.3 Main Challenges  Inadequate staff to manage the office  Frequent downtime of the BMS application

6. PROGRAMMES/PROJECTS STATUS FOR THE YEAR 2015 Location Rural/ Project Project Contract Payment Contractor Quality Fundin Award Complet. Status Urban type Category Sum g Date Source Nyakrom Urban Construct 6-Classroom 139,662.00 38,783.00 Kac-Aes average GET 04/04/10 05-10-10 Lintel ion Block Ghana Fund level Limited Nsuansa Rural Construct 6-Classroom 149,955.00 107,898.00 M/S Barima not GET 22/11/10 22-05-11 Roofing ion Block Twumbarim inspect Fund level a ed Salem, Urban Construct Classroom 317,488.00 161,979.00 Kwasac average GET 22/11/10 22-05-11 First floor Swedru ion Block wood works Fund level Nyamend Rural Construct 6-Classroom 199,617.00 48,248.00 Sag-An Co. average GET 06/12/11 08-06-12 Gable am ion Block Ltd. Fund level Abodom Rural Construct 6-Classroom 149,617.00 95,826.00 M/S Amo above GET 11/04/11 04-04-12 Finishing ion Block Mensah Co. average Fund level Ltd. Abodom Rural Construct 3-Classroom 147,904.00 22,739.00 M/S above GET 29/02/12 29-08-13 Roofing ion Block Dadkenson average Fund level Co. Ltd. Kwaama Rural Construct 3-Classroom 147,904.00 22,738.88 M/S Dewis average GET 29/02/12 29-08-13 Roofing n ion Block Enterprise Fund level Nyakrom Urban Construct Classroom 147,904.00 22,739.00 M/S Dewis average GET 29/02/12 29-08-13 Gable ion Block Enterprise Fund level

Ekurufuf Construct M/S Falila average GET Setting u Rural ion 2-Unit 112,403.50 Co.Ltd Fund 16/09/15 01-02-16 out Classroom block

2-Unit M/S Dolad average GET Nkum- Construct Classroom Constructio Fund Not on Mansah Rural ion block 119,893.23 n Work 16/09/15 01-02-16 site

2-Unit M/S Angles average GET Kwaama Construct Classroom Associate Fund Foundatio n Urban ion block 122,555.00 Ltd. 16/09/15 01-02-16 n Ex 2-Unit GET Abodom Construct Classroom M/S Ansey Fund Gable Cath Urban ion block 119,915.25 Enterprise average 16/09/15 01-02-16 level

M/S Sir average GET 2-Unit Charles Fund Akurama Construct Classroom Doughan Foundatio se Rural ion block 119,585.73 C.Ltd 16/09/15 01-02-16 n Ex

6-Unit average GET Construct Classroom Fund Setting Nsuansa Rural ion block 299,192.25 M/S Buabay 16/09/15 01-02-16 out Abigyakr Rural Construct Teachers 57,687.00 23,903.94 M/S Na- above DACF 26/04/11 08-11-11 Roofing om ion Quarters NAF average level Enterprise Bebianeh Urban Construct Library 73,792.54 31,392.16 M/S Kannan above DACF 23/01/12 23-08-13 Roofing a ion Constructio average level n Rehabilit M/S Fobiri aion Police charge Links Finishing Swedru Urban office 54,123.00 42,292.80 &Sons average DACF 22/01/14 24-03-14 level Agona Urban Rehabilit Classroom 23,481.00 10,400.00 M/S Angles above DACF 01/14/14 14-03-14 Finishing Associate

Nyakrom aion Block Ltd. average level of Cntral above Renovati Administrati M/S Effana average Finishing Swedru Urban on on Block 89,653.27 36,318.60 Enterprise. DACF 28/11/14 30-03-15 level M/S Fobiri Rehabilit Links Complete Swedru Urban aion Open shed 46,867.10 15,387.80 &Sons average DACF 16/07/15 07-09-15 d

2-Unit Afumkw Construct Classroom M/S EAK Roofing aa Rural ion block 119,340.90 50,154.66 Enterprise average DACF 16/09/15 01-02-16 level 4-Unit M/S Footing Construct Classroom Katanca Above (Block Nyakrom Urban ion block 211,076.20 31,661.41 Co.Ltd average DACF 06/11/15 07-03-16 work) 4-Unit Above Abigyakr Construct Classroom M/S Leonie average Oversite om Urban ion block 194,925.85 46,663.95 Ltd DACF 16/09/15 01-02-16 concrete 1No. Above Construct Teachers M/S Hidic average Oversite Afumkw Rural ion Quarters 205,758.50 30,863.78 Co.Ltd DACF 06/11/15 07-03-16 concrete aa Above Manasok Construct CHPS M/S Gable average wa Urban ion Compound 148,737.75 62,815.57 Iconstar Ltd DACF 16/09/15 01-02-16 level 1No. 3- Above Construct Bedroom M/S average Gable Swedru Urban ion Apartment 180,477.90 27,071.69 Iconstar Ltd DACF 16/09/15 01-02-16 level M/S Construct 1No.CHPS Danclass Roofing Odomu Urban ion Compound 148,225.25 80,000.00 Ltd average DACF 16/09/15 01-02-15 level

of average 1No.1.20m dia pipe Drain culvert,0.9m 11-05-16 50% Catholic Construct U 232,308.0 M/S Ecilas Complete avenue Urban ion drain(235m) 468,437.50 0 Ltd DACF 06/11/15 d M/S Fobiri Rehabilit Links Complete Swedru Urban aion Open shed 46,867.10 15,387.80 &Sons average DACF 16/07/15 07-09-15 d of Clinic M/S Rehabilit &Satff Ultimate Finishing Nkum Urban aion Quarters 99,676.00 31,500.00 Vision Ltd average MPCF 22/01/14 24-03-14 level of 4-Unit M/S Rehabilit Classroom Ultimate Roofing Nyakrom Urban aion Block 54,396.76 22,500.00 Vision Ltd average MPCF 22/01/14 24-03-14 level Awaiting Bobikum Construct 1No. Police Regional ah Urban ion Station MPCF approval Awaiting Bobikum Construct 1No. Police Regional ah Urban ion Station MPCF approval Ministry 1No. 6-Unit of Awaiting Construct Classroom Educatio Regional AWMA Urban ion block n approval

Aglican 1No. 6-Unit Awaiting Basic Construct Classroom Ministry Regional School Urban ion block of approval Educatio

Nyakrom Urban Construct Community 437,203.62 271,829.50 M/S JPP DDF 27/05/14 30-06-15 Complete ion Center Constructio d n average Swedru Urban Construct 5no.0.9m Dia 139,694.52 91,686.25 M/S KKA UDG 04/25/14 28-11-14 4-Cluvert ion pipe Culvert Company Complete and Res Ltd d of2.3 average

Tarring of average 0.4km road M/S Gravellin and paving Rinacand Mandela Urban g of 34x38m 303,082.17 45,462.32 Co.Ltd UDG 06/11/15 11-05-16 On-going

of 1-Storey average PWD Construct 30-Lockable 198,741.8 M/S Adalk Sub- yard Urban ion Stores 632,566.00 8 Co.Ltd UDG 06/11/15 11-05-16 Structure Consultancy and asset Awaiting Consulta Management Regional Urban ncy service UDG approval Swedru