South Dayi District Assembly (SDDA) held the First Ordinary Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Sixth General Assembly on Tuesday 30th April, 2024.

SESSIONAL ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HON. GODWIN KWAME DADZAWA AT THE FIRST ORDINARY MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SOUTH DAYI DISTRICT SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD ON TUESDAY, 30^TH APRIL, 2024 IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL

 

Hon. Presiding Member,

Hon. Member of Parliament,

Hon. Assembly Members,

Heads of Department,

Distinguished invited guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

I am highly delighted and thankful to God for this opportunity to once again address this August House, the Sixth General Assembly of South Dayi District, by the pleasant duty of fulfilling my mandate as enshrined in the Local Governance Act 2016, ACT 936 by presenting to you, Sessional Address today, Tuesday, 30^th April, 2024.

Permit me to first express gratitude to our Omnipotent God for successfully taking us through 2023 and the first quarter of this year. On behalf of H.E Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, I warmly welcome you all to this First Ordinary meeting of the Sixth Assembly. We must admit that, we have been managing affairs of the District in difficult times but still filled with more hope for excellence going forward.

 

Hon. Presiding Member, we framed our Vision “South Dayi to become a resilient, safe, commercial and Agro-based District” to help have a sense of direction in policy making, programme and projects implementation. We must ensure the  improvement of the well-being and economic conditions of all our citizens by focusing on our core mandate of providing basic infrastructure; increasing access to social services and ultimately, improving on the standards of living of the people in the District.

Our quest to achieving this broad goal has since faced impact of economic shocks  and wars in and outside Ghana. It has affected the strength of development partners and hence projects under donor funds. Our efforts to increase resource mobilization cannot be applauded much. I am very comfortable with the level of financial discipline attained by this Assembly in relation to expenditure. That discipline made us pass the DPAT and was sufficiently testified by the Auditor General in their reports.

This year has started with high expectations of great things for our people and most of us, justifiably so, cannot wait for programs and projects to roll out to their successful completion. We have the great desire for; solution to water crises, extension of electricity, improvement of social services, improvement in road networks etc, borne out of calls from Hon. Assembly Members, traditional rulers and ordinary citizens which is why I wish to call on all office holders to play their respective assigned roles and work with the common vision. Efforts are relentless to ensure timely releases of funds from Central Government to help us complete delayed but ongoing projects under such statutory funding sources.

Let me also acknowledge the wonderful work being done by the technocrats of the Assembly in the implementation of our collective decisions.

Hon Presiding Member, while congratulating ourselves for some level of achievement, let us review the policy objectives and assess our strategies in the below various sectors of development in the district for 2024:

 

 

Security Situation:

The District has been relatively calm and peaceful while daily business transactions have been going on with relative ease. The members of the District Security Committee has always deliberated on threats to our security situation. The year 2023 recorded fatal road accidents claiming lives of innocent citizens. The security analysts blame same on unlicensed riders and uninsured vehicles. There have been reports of theft, rape and defilement cases, child abuse, some few chieftaincy and land disputes. Others include Teenage Pregnancies and destruction of farm crops by Fulani herds. I bless our security personnel with health and prosperity for being swift and professional in handling the cases. I encourage police regular patrols in the relevant areas of our district. Last year, we met the Fulani herdsmen to realign their activities for coexistence with crop farmers. A programme for registration of Fulani herds and their grazing lands was initiated to protect crop farms. The initiative of supplying boat operators with Live-jackets by VRA  for every passenger is still on course. It would have been completed had it not been the devastating floods. We are expecting delivery of about 3000 pieces from

Volta River Authority (VRA) but this would be facilitated by registration of the boats. It must be noted that the floods that affected some parts of Dzemeni and other settlements by the lake, was not caused by the Spillage of Akosombo Dam but rains and the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso. It is in our own interest that people should not built structures within the contour 280. It is illegal to put up a building without permit.

 

 

Financial Performance 2023:

FUND	ANNUAL ESTIMATE (GH¢)	ACTUAL RECEIPT (GH₵)	PERCENTAGE RECEIVED
IGF	646389.00	510,120.04	78.9  %
DACF	4,258,914.30	997,123.99	23.3%
PWD-DACF	250,000.00	157,820.00	63%
MP-DACF	450,000,00	379,748.72	84.3%
DACF-RFG	NIL	NIL
MSHAP	20,000.00	8,210.00	41.05%
UNICEF	20,000.00	20,000.00	100%

It is worth noting that, 2023 IGF was a little lower than that of 2022. Even though, we set low targets we did not mobilize hitting our targets because a lot of revenue sources were left untouched. Management is taking a bold step to change the story. A Revenue Taskforce of young energetic staff has been constituted which is already operating covering every sector of legitimate revenue sources. They need your support.

There was not any amount received for DACF- Reserve Factor Grant for investment and capacity building. We qualified the last assessment and waiting for funds to be released. Under my watch, we will certainly leave no stone unturned for passing 2023 DPAT also.

 

Policy, Programmes and Projects:

Hon. Presiding Member, last year, irrespective of our weak financial inflow we were able to achieve the following objectives of policy, programmes and projects rolling over into this year, 2024:

 

Education:

Hon. Presiding Member, the Department of Education has been strengthened with logistics for improvement in services. since 2022 we have made them benefit  Nissan Pick-up, Seven Motor Bikes, about 700 dual desks and some  teachers tables and chairs from MLGRD, Two (2) Photocopy machines internet connectivity. Even though schools and learning environment has always been conducive both BECE and WASSCE performance had not been impressive and this was mostly blamed on the activities of the Directorate. There has been a lot of complaints from teachers and other stakeholders against the GES and the issues are under investigation however, the District Director has been posted out of the District

Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP)

The Ghana School Feeding Programme is a government initiative geared towards providing        pupils in beneficiary schools with one hot meal a day. The objective of the programme is to  increase contact hours, reduce truancy, improve on pupils’ nutritional needs, increase consumption of local products and more importantly, increase academic enrolment and performance  of pupils. The South Dayi District Assembly has nineteen (19) beneficiary public schools enrolled in the Programme as at 2023. The number of pupils benefitting under the programme is totaled Seven Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine pupils (7359) as at December 2023. The District, however, remains hopeful of some additional schools to be enrolled in the program to boost and sustain enrolment in some other schools in the District. Children are vulnerable and need our protection. Let me warn those caterers who fail to provide food and yet claim payment from the GSFP secretariat to immediately desist from that practice or else, they will be punished severely for their crimes without mercy or favour.

Free Senior High School Programme

The District has four (4) Senior High Schools and Toh Technical Vocational Institute. All these schools are benefiting from the Free Senior High School policy. The policy, however, led to a significant increase of about 50% enrolment between 2017 and 2023. The program has enrolled about 1859 in the District. The District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) was informed of the high level of improvement in the Toh Technical Institute hence the presence of the Principal to brief the house details about the school.

Health:

As indicated in my last year’s address to this house, I have a continued profound impression about the staff of the District Health Directorate  and GHS in general. Even though we are constrained with resources the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had continued immunizations, community sensitization on health issues, as well as appreciable performance of health facilities in the district. the veterinary services to our animal farmers has been fantastic. I am impressed about the splendid food vendors screening last year and I encourage the environmental officer to carry out follow ups to make sure the impact of the exercise is felt by the citizens. My collaborative efforts with the  MP donations enforces the office renovation and construction of the main Directorate while the directorate temporarily occupies the office of the Business Resources Centre.  

The National Health Insurance subscribers still stand at 48,558, which means, we still have a higher number of our people who need to subscribe. Hon members should take it as part of your campaign messages going forward in the next General Assembly elections supporting people to subscribe. As part of government’s programme of providing all Districts that have no District Hospitals, the Agenda 111 policy currently being rolled out nationwide has South Dayi District one of the beneficiary districts. For now, a sixty (60) bed capacity is currently under construction. The facility is located at Kpeve and is about 70%, completed.  

ROAD

1. Reshaping of roads as a maintenance intervention was done on the following roads
   1. Todome – Toh 20km
   2. Kpeve – Tornu 7Km and Tsokpokope by-pass 1.2km
2. Construction of 1no. Double 1200mm x 1200mm diameter Pipe culvert on Bobmaley Road at Peki Avetile
3. Dredging of the river Amimli at Peki Avetile

 

 

Central Government Intervention

The Eastern Corridor road which is under construction from Asikuma in the Eastern Region and runs through a number of districts in the Volta Region, including the South Dayi District specifically Peki, Todome and the District Capital, Kpeve. Some adjoining roads such as GOVCO, Peki Government Hospital, Bobmaley, Tsame and 1911 access roads have been added as part of the contract.

The 39km stretch from Asikuma to Adzokoe is asphalted completely. The Adzokoe to Kpeve stretch is about 95% completed. There is also an extension of the contract from Kpeve Old town to Have, also ongoing

Water:

Hon. Assembly Members, the poor water situation in some communities such as Dzemeni, Agordeke, Kpalime-Duga, Dzakiti, Golovime, Kaira Resettlement, Toh-Kpalime, Tongor-Ahor Resettlement, Tongor-Tsanakpe, Tsatee-Kpalime is regrettable. However efforts are being made to help fix the problem. Safe water Network has renewed their agreement with the Assembly for expansion of their water supply project. The Assembly is facilitating a proposal for Japan grant to drill deep to the water table and planting mechanized boreholes.

• Safe Water Network.

The Safe Water networks a private water company contracted some years ago to provide safe drinking water for the following towns; Dzemeni, Dzakiti, New Kaira, Tongor Tsanakpe, old Kaira, Ahor ,  Tsate, Duga and Agordeke, and currently expansion  work been carried out at Old Kaira and Ahor.

Ghana Water Company cover the following towns in the District.

These are Todome, Adzokoe, Tsibu, Wudome, Dzogbati, Blengo, Afeviofe, Tsame, Avetile, Dzakei, Agbateh, Bethel, Kpeve and its environs

Based on information received from the Ghana Water Company of South Dayi office, 178 applications were received in the year, 2023 out of which 150 were processed and served, 28 applications are in process.

• Central Government Intervention.

10 boreholes have been drilled for mechanization at the following communities

Kpalime Duga, Toh, GOVCO, Kpeve Senior High, Peki Senior High, PESTECK, Sanga, Ayensu, Kaira and Tsita.

 

 

ELECTRICITY

Also impressive is our Electricity Coverage of 91% that is 100% for urban communities and 86% coverage for rural communities. It is good that the extension of electricity to Adzebui, Kpongbonikope and other remaining communities is much considered. We had continued the distribution of street lights and still looking forward to adding more to deserving areas especially for security. Currently Electricity Company of Ghana is providing power to the all most all the major communities in the District. Based on information received from ECG Kpeve District office, 288 applications were received for the year 2023,  and 182 were served. An approval for extension at Tongor Dzemeni and Tsanakpe Areas have been receive and work will commenced very soon .

STREET LIGHT

Illumination of streets at night is a very important concern in our society, as this could go a long way to curb crime during dark hours. The above feat notwithstanding, more lighting is needed to satisfy the extended networks of road and walkways. Many street lights along the roads are out dated and need to be replaced, according to Assembly’s assessment carried out in the various communities, town and villages in the District.

 

 

Agriculture:

Hon. Presiding Member, Ladies and Gentlemen; Agriculture remains the mainstay of our district economy and most local economic development efforts are centered on agricultural activities. With respect to Central Government Policies and Programmes in Agriculture pertaining to Planting for Export and Rural Development, farmers have continued being registered for some selected crops such as cashew, sweet potato, oil palm and cassava. With planting for Food and Jobs campaign as at last year, the registered input dealers have continued partaking in the subsidized fertilizer programme and distribution of seeds. MAG has been supporting the training of farmers with funds unfortunately they have ended their programme. We have to find a way of sustaining what they started. About 30 Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) have been formed including women groups in Sanga and Tsinu and they are supported by Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP). As for the  Green Ghana project, it is my intension to take the entire hill behind the Assembly to continue the tree plantation. Others are encourage to plant more and this year we will focus on supply of coconut seedlings for the protection of the lake boundaries.

Planting For Food and Jobs” Campaign 2023

The District is a beneficiary of the planting for food and jobs programs through a support fund from CIDA which started in 2017 and has contributed immensely to the improvement in the agricultural sector and the local economic development of the district. The program led to an increase in agricultural output while increasing the participation of more youths in agriculture. The current population of the district involves in agriculture stands at 53% (2022-2025 DMTDP). The introduction of the program has since increased the number of registered farmers from 2088 since inception in 2017 to 13,401 as of December 2023.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER PLANNED PROJECTS

 

Hon. Presiding Member, I have attached an appendix of detailed information on prioritized projects.

2. BUILDING

3 projects are currently on-going and are at various stages

1. Construction of area council at Tongor Tsanakpe, roofed
2. Renovation of 6-Unit class room block at Agbate
3. Completion of 2-unit KG block at Agordeke, roofed

                     Completed Projects includes:

1. Renovation of DCDs Bungalow
2. Renovation of DFO’s Bungalow

The following projects have been awarded by the VRCC under the District Assembly Common Fund (Reserve fund):

3. DCE’S Bungalow
4. Astroturf Football Pitch
5. 2-bedroom staff bungalow
6. 3-bedroom staff bungalow

CODA

40-Unit lockable stores awarded to be constructed at Kpeve Market

3. SANITATION

10-Seater WC toilet facility is been constructed at Kpeve Market, Gbi Market and PESCO and have unduly delayed by CODA

Old refuse dump were evacuated in the following communities by :

1. Peki Dzogbati
2. Peki Tsame
3. Peki Wudome .

892 street lights from the VRCC office were received and installed to replace damage beyond repair street lights within the District. The installation was based on the assessment and information from the Assemblymen.

Hon. Presiding Member, the Sixth Assembly has just started. This is an election year and I urge you to consider the good works of the government and give your massive endorsement breaking the Eight. I pray that we all engage in peaceful campaigns and election.

I thank you all for your attention and wish you fruitful deliberation.