HO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY L IPA AS IC S N E U M M B L O Y H ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2016 February 28th, 2017 1 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT OF THE HO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY 1ST- DECEMBER 31ST, 2016 INTRODUCTION: This report covers programmes/project activities, administrative developments and financial performance in the Ho Municipality from January 1 – December 31, 2016 aimed at improving local governance and development in the Municipality. 1. (i)Table of Contents (ii) Executive Summary 2. General Profile of the Organization 3. Programme Delivery 4. Financial Performance, January 1 – December 31, 2016 5. Challenges and Strategies for overcoming the Challenges 6. Projects undertaken in the Municipality as at the end of the reporting period 7. Forward outlook for January 1 – December 31, 2017. 2 CHAPTER ONE GENERAL PROFILE OF THE MUNICIPALITY: The Ho Municipal Assembly, one of the 5 Municipalities in the Volta Region, was established by a Legislative Instrument: L.I 2074 of 2012.Until the year 2012, Ho West District was part of the then Ho Municipality. The Municipality has Ho as its capital which also serves as the capital and economic hub of the Volta Region. The Municipality has a population of 204,353 (2010 Housing and Population Census, Ghana Statistical Service, Volta Region). Location & Size The Municipality is located between latitudes 6o 20”N and 6o 55”N and longitudes 0o 12’E and 0o 53’E. It shares boundaries with Adaklu and Agortime-Ziope Districts to the South, Ho West District to the North and West and the Republic of Togo to the East. Its total land area is 2,361 square kilometres: thus representing 11.5 percent of the region’s total land area. Demographic Characteristics The total population of the Municipality is projected at 204,353 comprising of 100,337 males and 104,016 females (Source: Volta Regional Statistical Office). The urban population stands at 127,181 while the rural population is 77,172. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ho Municipality’s economy. It employs about 70 percent of the economically active labour force. Nearly every household in the Municipality is engaged in farming or an agricultural related activity. Farming in the municipality is largely carried out on small-scale basis. The average acreage cultivated ranges between 4 - 6 acres for all crops. Despite its importance in the Municipality’s economy, much of the agricultural potentials in the Municipality remain unutilized. For instance, out of a total of 62,261 hectares of arable land, only 23,167.6 hectares is currently being utilized. The Municipality’s irrigation potential also remains untouched. The economy is characterized by large number of small- scale commercial / industrial activities such as fitting shops, carpentry, welding etc...The small-scale enterprises and industrial concerns are concentrated in the city centre, making it the business hub of the Municipality. The economy is characterized by 3 employment in the public and private sectors with the public service employing nine percent (9%) while the private sector engages 91%. MISSION The Ho Municipal Assembly as an integrated development focused institution, facilitates the effective mobilization and utilization of human and material resources for the provision of reliable social and economic services for the people. Good Governance and Public-Private Partnership are regarded as essential to the holistic development of the Municipality. The Assembly is also committed to the sustenance of traditional institutions and the environment. FUNCTIONS By Law, Ho Municipal Assembly constitutes the highest Political and Administrative Authority in the Municipality (Local Government Act 1993, Act 462). The Municipal Assembly is charged with three (3) Statutory Functions, namely: Deliberative, Legislative and Executive functions. By this, it ensures the overall development of its territorial jurisdiction, promotes and supports productive activities and socio-economic development, and initiates programmes for the development of basic infrastructure. It is also charged with the task of programme formulation as well as the execution of plans, programmes and strategies for the efficient mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the Municipality. It is also responsible for the enactment of Bye-Laws and the preparation of budget estimates. The Assembly also coordinates, integrates and harmonizes the execution of programmes and projects under the approved Development Plans of the Municipality and other development programmes promoted or carried out by Ministries, Departments Agencies, Services and other Statutory Bodies and Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations operating within the jurisdiction of the Assembly. 4 MEMBERSHIP OF THE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY The Ho Municipal Assembly was composed of forty-five (45) members, including the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament. The distribution of the membership was as follows: Elected Assembly Members 29 Government Appointees 14 Member of Parliament 1 Municipal Chief Executive 1 Total Membership of the Assembly 45 Out of the total membership of 45, 12 members are females and 33 are males. The Municipality is divided into five (5) Zonal Councils and twenty-nine (29) Unit Committees to bring governance close to the doorsteps of the people. Committees of the Municipal Assembly The Executive Committee which is chaired by the Municipal Chief Executive performs the day- to-day executive and administrative functions of the Assembly. The Executive Committee operates five (5) statutory Sub-Committees. The Sub-Committees help the Assembly in the decision-making process. They are responsible for deliberation on specific subjects and submit recommendations to the Executive Committee for discussion and then to the General Assembly for consideration and approval or ratification for implementation. The five (5) statutory Sub-Committees are: Works Social Services Justice and Security Development Planning Finance and Administration 5 The Assembly by Law is also empowered to set up a Municipal Entity Tender Committee and a Tender Review Board to advise the Assembly on matters concerning procurement of works, goods and services in the Municipal Assembly. Besides, the Act 462 permits the formation of additional Sub-Committees and Committees as the Municipal Assembly may deem appropriate to aid in the efficient and effective functioning and development of the Municipality. These other sub-committees and committees included: Education Agriculture Environment and Sanitation Gender Tourism Other committees under the Assembly included: Municipal Aids Committee Municipal Health Oversight Committee Statutory Planning Committee. Population and Census Committee Municipal Implementation Committee Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC). Municipal Sports Development Committee Municipal Education Oversight Committee Audit Report Implementation Committee (ARIC) Public Relations and Complaints Committee Indeed the Central Administration Department serves as the secretariat of the Assembly and it is established to provide secretarial and advisory services to the Executive Committee and the General Assembly on programmes, planning, budgeting and day to day administrative support. Security In terms of Security, the Municipal Security Committee, (MUSEC) had met on four (4) occasions during the period under review to strategize and ensure tranquillity and a continuous 6 peaceful coexistence of the citizenry in the Municipality. The Municipality had been peaceful and safe during the period under review. The MUSEC as well supervised a peaceful and violent free Presidential and Parliamentary Election, held in the Municipality on December 7th. PROGRAMME DELIVERY With regards to programme delivery, the Assembly laid emphasis on implementation of 2014- 2017 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP), which embodies an improvement in revenue mobilization, quality health service delivery, sanitation management, provision of educational infrastructure, road rehabilitation, project monitoring and evaluation and the 2016 Composite Budget and Fee Fixing Resolution implementation. Financial Performance Internally Generated Fund (IGF) for January - December, 2016 With regards to financial performance for the year 2016, the Assembly generated an amount of GH¢1,469,766.80 as Internal Revenue as against a budget estimates of GH¢2,090,790.41 representing 70.30%. Expenditure Pattern for the year, 2016 The recurrent expenditure for the period was GH¢ 1,522,085.47 Government of Ghana Funds District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for January- December, 2016 The Assembly received an amount of GH¢1,713,418.11, a total for the (1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters DACF of 2016. An outstanding of 2014 and 2016 4th quarters respectively, are yet to be received by the Assembly. MP’s Common Fund The Member of Parliament for the Municipality received a total of GH¢334,063.20 PWD Common Fund People with Disability Fund (PWD) received a total of GH¢110,127.26 7 Other Funds Other receipts from GOG including, Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme (GUMPP), District Development Fund (DDF), MSHAP, UDG and UNICEF totalling up to GH¢8,265,413.69 CONCLUSION Although the Ho Municipal Assembly encountered challenges in the delivery of its mandate and functions in the year, it managed them quite satisfactorily and thereby built on the status of development of the Municipality. The Assembly intends to continue with most of its developed strategies for the year 2017, as