AGONA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
2016 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (APR)
COMPILED BY:
MUNICIPAL PLANNING COORDINATING UNIT (MPCU) FEBRUARY, 2017
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 18 - 19
Update on Critical Development and Poverty Issues 20 - 25
Programme/Projects status for the Year 2015 26
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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. 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
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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.
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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. Confirmed Malaria 17,569 2. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections 13,611 3. Anaemia 7,162 4. Intestinal Worm 3,179 5. Acute Eye Infection 3,121 6. Diarrhea Diseases 2,642 7. Acute Urinary Tract Infection 2,486
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8. Rheumatism and Other Join Pains 2,369 9. Skin Diseases 2,118 10. Hypertension 1,752 Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2016
Table 3: Health Indicators INDICATORS 2013 2014 2015 2016 OPD Attendance 89,825 108,434 154,212 159,689 Under 5 Death 46 41 48 45 Total Death 350 315 326 307
Total Admissions 11,785 12,622 11,869 11,068 Insured Patient 63,949 88,277 133,374 140,553 Non-Insured 25,876 20,157 20,838 19,136
Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2016
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 to more schools
The challenges of education in the Municipality are:
The deplorable nature of the two official vehicle make the directorate encounter frequent maintenance which does not augur well for the financial management of the office. Lack of financial support to the directorate (GOG) makes the directorate insufficient to do regular monitoring of schools under our jurisdiction. Non – payment of T&T to our Circuit Supervisors and Scheduled officers demoralizes their efforts to do regular supervision and monitoring of our schools. Lack of adequate teaching and learning materials to our basic and second cycle schools.
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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 2016, under the youth employment programme, 247 youth were registered and out of the figure, 242 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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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, 2016 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
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• 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 enables 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.
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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.
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2. UPDATE ON CORE MUNICIPAL INDICATORS AND TARGETS
NO. ACCELERATED AGRICULTURE 2016 2016 MODERNIZATION & AGRO- Indicator Target BASED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Level 1. Per capital production Maize 16,624.20mt Not Available of key staple Cassava 39,722.30mt Not Available Foods Plantain 14,528.25mt Not Available (Crops, Livestock Cocoyam 172mt Not Available and fish) in Yam 109mt Not Available Kg/annum Rice Not Available Not Available of animal/annum ANIMAL Sheep 1,186 Not Available Goat 1,194 Not Available Cattle 273 Not Available 2. Proportion/length of roads maintained/Rehabilitated
- Truck Roads (in km) 10km - Urban Roads (in km) 12.4km Not Available - Feeder Roads (in km) 28km
3. Hectares of degraded forest/ mining /dry and wet lands
rehabilitated/restored
a. Forest Not Available b. Mining c. Dry and wetland 4. Tele density/Penetration rate:
DEVELOPING THE HUMAN 2016 2016 RESOURCES FOR
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DEVELOPMENT Indicator Target Level 5. HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (% of 1.2% 0.0 adult population. 15-69 yrs. HIV Positive) 6. Maternal Mortality ratio (Number 125 per 100,000 live 0.0 of deaths due to pregnancy and births (0.00125) childbirth per 100,000 live births) 7. Under-five mortality rate (Number (62/5329) x 1000 0.0 of Deaths occurring between birth
and exact age five per 1000 live births) 8. Malaria case fatality in children (6/5375) x 10,000 0.0 under five years per 10,000 population 9. Percentage of population with 82.91% 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 130.8% 120.1% - JHS 99.0% 91.0% - SHS - -
Net Admission Rate in Primary Schools (indicates - - 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 0.95 1.00
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- KG 0.98 0.961.00 - Primary 1.01 1.001.0 - JHS - - 0.83 - SHS Proportion of unemployed youth benefiting from
skills/apprenticeship and entrepreneurial training
12. Proportion of Youth Registered Not Available 13 Proportion of Youth Employed Not Available 14. Number of reported cases of abuse (children, women and men) - Children 5 - - Women 3 - - Men - - 15. Training programme for Assembly 4 12 Staff TRANSPARENT AND 2016 2016 ACCOUNTABLE Indicator Target GOVERNANCE Level 16. Total amount of internally GH¢1,179,241.86 generated revenue
17. Amount of Development Partner GH¢2,864,796.13 and
NGO funds contribution to
DMTDP Implementation 18. % of DA expenditure within the DMTDP budget (How much of
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DA’s expenditure not in the annual budget?)
REDUCING POVERTY AND 2016 2016 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. 48.30% KVIP, household latrine)
21. % of households covered by 67.02% 100% Electricity supply
3. UPDATE ON DISBURSEMENT FROM FUNDING SOURCES (GH¢)
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2013 2014 2015 2016 TOTAL DACF 716,807.23 754,103.03 1,566,514.16 2,052,242.75 5,089,667.17 IGF 951,305.41 1,275,681.57 1,325,866.69 1,179,241.86 4,732,095.53 HIPC Funds 25,000.00 25,000.00 - 25,000 75,000.00 SPECIAL - - 807,055.30 - 807,055.30 FUND GoG Grants 1,268,935.28 121,247.50 - 2,722,105.41 4,112,288.19
Donor 1,186,320.61 1,296,784.29 1,028.134.76 2,864,796.13 - 6,723,509.40 Grant 347,473.61 -
21,539,615.59 Total Amount 4,495,842.14 3,472,816.39 4,727,570.91 8,843,386.15
3.1 Adequacy of Funds
District Assembly Common Fund (DACF)
The amount of DACF received by the Municipality for the year under review falls short of almost 535 of what was budgeted for. The DACF for the 4th quarter have not been received. 3.1.2 Internally Generated Fund (IGF)
The IGF collected by the Assembly was 1,179,241.86 which was 79% of its target for the year under consideration. Measures have been put in place to increase the Internally Generated Fund of the Assembly for this year. 3.1.3 HIPC Funds Twenty-five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢25,000.00) was received by the Member of Parliament of the Constituency for developmental project. 3.1.4 Government of Ghana Grant The Government of Ghana’s Grant in the form of compensation and other funds for the year was received although some decentralized departments did not receive their fund.
3.1.5 Donor Grants
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Donor grant’s contribution towards the development of the Municipality amounted to GH¢2,864,796.13 which is made up of DDF and UDG. The fund received was 71% of the budgeted amount which has caused some projects not to be completed on time.
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 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 19
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 2016 2016 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
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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, 2016.
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
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A total amount of GH¢107,507.10 was released in 2015/2016 academic year which is the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tranche for the 2015/2016
Amount released for the 2015/2016 academic year in Tranches
1st Tranche: GH¢36,817.50
2nd Tranche: GH¢36,817.50
3rd Tranche: GH¢33,872.10
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. Honour Certificate 3. Advance Form 4. Monthly Expenditure Returns 5. Accounting for Advance Form
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 Funds are now releases directly to the caterers via mobile money or other forms of electronic payment. In all, 4,970 pupils (2,598 males and 2372 females) were fed in the 2015/2016 academic year.
5.2.3 Number of People’s Fed for 2016
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S/N Schools Number of beneficiaries Male Female Total 1. Nyamendam AMA KG Prim School 127 99 226 2. Ahamadonko AMA Basic Primary 224 198 422 3. Abodom Anglican Basic School 231 213 444 4. Bobikuma Catholic Basic School 199 153 352 5. Mansokwaa Kipharts AMA Primary 97 77 174 6. Nkum Presby KG Primary 104 119 223 7. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”A” Primary 113 103 216 8. Bobikuma Anglican 132 122 254 9. Kukurantumi AMA KG Primary 162 136 298 10. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”B” Primary 115 94 209 11. Odomu AME Basic School 92 97 189 12. Kesewa/Ekwaboman AMA KG & Prim 163 170 333 13. Nkranfo AMA Basic School 138 145 283 14. Nkum AMA Basic School 219 178 397 15. Kwaman Methodist Prim/KG 137 151 288 16. Nyakrom Presby School 187 157 344 17. Abigyakrom AMA Basic 158 160 318 Total 2,598 2372 4,970 Source: Ghana Education Service, AWMA 2016
5.2.4 Monitoring the Usage Monitoring activities were undertaken by National and Regional Teams in collaboration with the Desk officer. 5.2.5 Main Challenges Lack of logistics and vehicles for monitoring and evaluation Unavailability of funds from the national secretariat for monitoring activities Caterers complain of slow payment of their moneys from the national secretariat
5.2.6 Distribution of Educational Materials 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 Note1 Ex. Books 36,357pcs
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Assorted Story Books 21,788pcs Cockcrow books 3,000pcs Primary 1 Maths Books 4,723pcs P2 & P3 Writing Ex. Books 6298pcs Technical Drawing Books 4,603 P1 Lang. Ex. Books 4,723pcs Mosquito Nets 163 bails P1 writing Ex. Books 4,723pcs White Chalk 11,491pcs Attendance Register 968pcs Plastic Boxes 71pcs School Uniforms 986pcs Source: GES, 2016.
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 2016 YEAR (2016) ACTIVE MEMEBERSHIP FRESH 23,782 RENEWALS 40,408 TOTAL 64,190
YEAR (2016) OPD ATTENDANCE
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NHIS CARD BEARERS 140,553 NON CARD BEARERS 19,136 TOTAL (OPD) 159,689 Source: Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, 2016.
5.3.3 Main Challenges 1. Inadequate staff to manage the office. 2. Delay of VSAT relocation to Mensakrom satellite office. 3. Frequent downtime of the BMS application. 4. Absence of Office Security Guard. 5. Absence of place of convenience for the clients. 6. Frequent breaking in into office premises by unknown people. 7. One NHIS District office serving two District Assemblies. 8. Staff exposure to infections from patient brought from hospital.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Additional staffs are needed to complement current low staff strength.
2. To ensure the completion of Mensakrom Satellite office.
3. Seek for more logistics to reduce long queues and registration time.
4. Place of convenience for clients should be quickly addressed by the Authority.
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6. PROGRAMMES/PROJECTS STATUS FOR THE YEAR 2016 S/N PROJECT LOCATION CONTRACTOR AWARD COMPLETION PROJECT COST SOURCE OF STATUS DATE DATE (GH¢) FUNDING
1. Construction of 1No. 1.2m Swedru M/S Ecilas Ltd. 06-11-15 08-06-16 468,437.50 DACF Special Completed Diameter Pipe Culvert, 0.9m U-Drain and Reshaping of 470m Road at Catholic Avenue
2. Construction of 2-Unit Afumkwaa M/S EAK Enterprise 16-09-15 01-02-16 119,340.9 DACF Special Completed Classroom at Afumkwaa
3. Reshaping of 9.6km Selected Municipal M/S Fobiri Link 18-01-16 17-04-14 38,190.00 DACF Completed Roads in the Municipality wide &Sons Co. Ltd.
4. Construction of 1No. CHPS Odom M/S Danclass Ltd. 16-09-15 03-03-16 148,225.25 DACF Completed Compound
5. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Amponsa M/S Kannan 24-03-16 06-09-16 339,112.85 UDG Completed Classroom Block with Ancillary Construction Facilities
6. Construction of 1No. 3-Unit Nyamendam M/S J.O Okine 25-04-2014 27-05-16 202,971.75 UDG Completed Classroom Block with Ancillary Builders ltd Facilities
7. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Nkum M/S CLG Ghana 05-04-16 24-08-16 350,012.25 GETFund Completed Classroom Block with Ancillary Limited Facilities
8. Construction of 1No. 3-Unit Kwaaman M/S Kokobo Co. 29-02-12 07-12-14 147,903.55 GETFund Completed Classroom Block at Kwaman Ltd. Presby JHS
9. Construction of 1No. Police Lower M/S Charspong Co. 12-02-16 01-08-16 396,335.73 DDF Completed Station Bobikuma Ltd. 27
10. Construction of 2No. Open Swedru M/S Rafjoy 28-04-16 28-07-16 153,444.70 UDG Completed Sheds and 10-Unit Lockable Ventures Stores with Metal Gate at Mandela Market
11. Construction of 1No. 0.9M Agona Swedru M/S Facol Ltd. 03-06-16 07-11-16 180,237.10 UDG Completed Diameter Pipe Culvert and 700m U-Drain at Otabilkrom- Greenland Road
12. Construction of 2No. School Nyakrom and M/S Sir Charles 28-04-16 31-10-16 78,466.73 DDF Completed Feeding Kitchens at Nyakrom Odom Doughan Holy Quoran B and Odom Zion Schools
13. Construction of CHPS Mansokwaa Iconstar 16-09-15 15-03-16 148,738.00 DACF Completed Compound
14. Construction of 5NO. 0.9m Swedru K.K.A Co. Ltd 12/6/14 12/3/5 153,705.91 UDG Completed Diameter Pipe Culvert and Reshaping of 2.3km pipe Otabilkrom-Greenland road
15. Opening up of 2.50km road Nkranfo M/S Amoh Mensah 13/5/16 13/5/16 34,600.00 DACF Completed Co. Ltd.
16. Construction of 1No. 4-Unit Afumkwaa M/S Hidic 06-09-15 09-05-16 205,758.50 DACF Special On-going Teachers Quarters at Company Ltd. Afumkwaa
17. Construction of 1No. 4-Unit Abigyakrom M/S Leonie Ltd. 16-09-15 16-01-16 194,825.85 DACF On-going Classroom Block at Abigyakrom
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18. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Nyakrom M/S Kac-Aes Ghana 04-10-10 04-03-11 139,661.94 GETFund On-going Classroom Block at Nyakrom Limited Methodist School
19. Construction of 1No. 6-unit Nyamendam M/S Sag-An Co. 06-12-11 07-05-12 199,617.25 GETFund On-going Classroom Block with Ancillary Ltd. Facilities at Nyamedam Presby
20. Construction of 1No. 2-Unit Ekurufufu M/S Falila Co. Ltd 16-09-15 28-12-15 117,403.5 GETFund On-going Classroom Block with Ancillary Facilities
21. Construction of 2-Unit Kwaaman M/S Angels 16-09-15 28-12-15 122,555 DACF On-going Classroom Block Associates Co. Ltd.
22. Construction of 2-Unit Abodom M/S Ansey 16-09-15 01-02-16 119,915.25 GETFund On-going Classroom Block AWM Enterprise
23. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Agona Swedru M/S Dzidzordoga 28-07-15 28-11-15 293,991.20 UDG On-going Classroom Block with Ancillary Construction Ltd Facilities at Swedru SDA School
24. Construction of 1No. 4-Unit 2 Otabilkrom M/S Kannan 24-03-16 24-08-16 463,975.30 UDG On-going Bedroom Apartment AWM Construction
25. Construction of 1No. 3- Swedru M/S Iconstar Ltd. 16-09-15 16-03-16 180,477.90 DACF Special On-going Bedroom Apartment
26. Construction of 3No. 0.9M U- Agona Swedru M/S Ecilas Ltd. 22-09-16 22-02-17 202,000.00 UDG On-going Culvert at Agona Swedru Cemetery Road and 2No. 0.9M U-Culvert at Nkranfo- Amponsah
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27. Construction Of 1 No. Police Nyakrom Sag-An Co. Ltd. 20-06-16 20-01-17 465,043.42 DACF On-going Station
28. Construction of 1No. 4-Unit kyekyewere M/S Kannan 22-09-16 22-02-17 224,930.18 DACF On-going Classroom Block with Ancillary Construction Facilities at Kyekyewere
29. Construction of 1 No. CHPS Bosompa M/S Sir Charles 22-09-16 22-03-17 191,033.55 DACF On-going Compound with Mechanised Doughan Co. Ltd. Borehole at Bosompa
30. Construction of 1 No. 30 Unit Afumkwaa Adalk Company 16-11-15 23-05-16 632,566.45 UDG On-going Lockable Stores at Public Ltd. Works Department (PWD) lands
31. Construction of 1 No. Block Swedru Fobiri Enterprise 14/8/15 30/11/15 32,614.00 UDG On-going Factory
32. Renovation of Community Swedru Busy Bee Ent 13/5/16 6/7/16 11,332.00 DACF On-going Development Office
33. Opening up of Kwabena Kwa Kwabena Kwa M/S Sir Charles 24/5/16 24/6/16 25,400.00 UDG On-going to Nkranfo to Nkranfo Doughan Co. Ltd.
34. Fencing and External Work MCES Katanca Co.Ltd. 29/6/16 29/9/16 116,694.2 DACF On-going MCES RESIDENCE Residence
35. Construction of 1No. 4 Unit 2 Otabilkrom M/S Kannan 29/9/16 29/9/16 463,975.30 UDG On-going Bedroom apartment for AWM Construction Teachers
36. Construction of 1No. 2 Unit Nkum Mensah M/S Isoben Co. Ltd 22-9-16 23-12-16 139,737.99 GETFUND On-going Block with Ancillary Facilities at Nkum Mensah
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37. Construction of 3-Bedroom Abigyakrom M/S NASF 6/12/2011 16-01-16 57,687.14 CBRDP Standstill Teachers Quarters with 2 Construction Seater KVIP
38. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Nsuansa M/S Barima 18/11/2010 149,955.00 GETFund Standstill Classroom Block at Nsuansa Twumbarima 18/5/2011 ADA
39. Construction of 1No. 2-Storey Swedru M/S Kwasac wood 22-11-10 29/6/2011 317,487.78 GETFund Standstill 12-Unit Classroom Block at works Salem Presby Primary
40. Construction of 1No. 6-Unit Abodom M/S Amo Mensah 11-04-11 12-09-11 149,617.25 GETFund Standstill Classroom Block at Abodom AWM Co. Ltd. Presby
41. Construction of 1No. 3-Unit Abodom M/S Dadkenson Co. 29-02-12 29-07-12 147,903.55 GETFund Standstill Classroom Block at Abodom AWM Ltd. Presby JHS
42. Construction of 1No. 3-unit Nyakrom M/S Dewis 29-02-12 29-07-12 147,903.55 GETFund Standstill Classroom Block with Ancillary Enterprise Facilities at Nyakrom Anglican JHS
43. Construction of 1No. Swedru M/S Kannan 23-01-12 24-06-12 73,792.54 DACF Standstill Community Library Construction
44. Construction of 2 Unit Nkum Mensah M/S Dolad 24-10-15 02-12-16 119,893.23 Get Fund Terminated Classroom block Construction Works
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