Vision Statement
The vision of the South Dayi District Assembly is to promote and improve socio-economic conditions and general well-being of the people within a decentralized system of governance.
Mission Statement
The South Dayi District Assembly exists to improve the quality of life of the people through the provision and improvement of basic social infrastructure, services and facilities and create avenues for economic activities to reduce poverty.
Goal of the Assembly
To improve upon the socio-economic condition and general well being of the people through a concerted effort of all stakeholders to achieve self-reliance, accountability, unity of purpose with the creation of the necessary enabling environment for the growth of the private sector -led economy based on the principle of good governance.
Core Values
The core values of the Assembly are; accountability, client-oriented, creativity, diligence, discipline, equity, integrity, innovativeness, fairness, timeliness and transparency.
Functions of the Assembly
The South Dayi District Assembly performs a number of functions as stipulated by the Local Governance Act 936 (2016) and other legal documents. The Assembly:
- Is responsible for the overall development of the District
- Exercises political and administrative authority in the District and provides guidance, gives direction and supervises other administrative authorities.
- Promotes and supports productive activity and social development in the District.
- Is responsible for the development of infrastructure and provide District works and services such as water, educational, health facilities, etc.
- Is responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment and sanitation.
- In co-operation with appropriate national and local security agencies is responsible for the maintenance of security and public safety in the District.
- Is responsible for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage within the District.
- Has the responsibility to guide and support sub-district structures, other public agencies and local communities to perform their functions.
Promotes and encourage other persons or bodies to undertake development projects, monitor, assess and evaluate their impact on the development of the District and national economy.
Location
South Dayi lies within latitudes 3020’N and 3.5005’N and lies approximately on longitude 0017’E and 0027E. It shares boundaries with Kpando and Hohoe to the north, Ho West to the east and Asuogyaman Districts in the South, while the Volta Lake forms the Western boundary. The District covers a total area of 358.3 square kilometers with about 20% submerged by the Volta Lake. The District is easily accessible by road such as the one which runs from Kpando through Kpeve to Accra and Hohoe through Kpeve to Ho.
Historical Background
The South Dayi District Assembly was established by Legislative Instrument No.1753 of 2004. It was carved out of the then Kpando District and inaugurated on 24thAugust, 2004. Its capital is Kpeve where the administrative office is located. The District Assembly is composed of the District Chief Executive, who is nominated by the President and approved by Two-Thirds of the members of the District Assembly present and voting.
The Assembly is currently comprised of 21 Elected Members from each of the 21 Electoral Areas, 9 appointed members, and one Member of Parliament (MP), who however has no voting rights.
Climate
The District has a tropical climate that is greatly influenced by the southwest monsoon winds from the South Atlantic and dry harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert. There are two rainy seasons, the major one from mid April to early July and the minor one from September to November. The average annual rainfall varies from 900m to 1,300mm. Marked variations exist as regards the onset, duration and intensity of the rainfall.
Topography
The most conspicuous physical features of the South Dayi District are the Akuapim-Togo-Atakora ranges. Also scattered over the District are hills and ridges which give the topography an undulating nature. Akpato, Amekulotoe, Gleme and Abanyakoe are examples of these hills.
Soils
The major soil types in the District are the savanna Acrisols, Leptosols and ground water laterites. This is a sandy loam type of soil with local adaptation. But along the Volta lake, alluvial silty loams predominate. The soil is good for agricultural production especially for crops such as cassava, cashew, oil palm, sweet potato, maize, soya beans among others. This positions the District to benefit the planting for food and jobs and export programmes of Government.
Vegetation
The vegetation of the District is a mix of guinea woodland and Semi deciduous forest. The savanna woodlands consist of grass with scattered trees including acacia, bamboos, and baobabs. Thesedots the Dayi basin. The semi deciduous forests are found on the slopes of the Akwapim-Togo-Atakora hills and the hills found at Tsate, Kpalime and Dzemeni areas. Much of the forests have however been lost due to lumbering and bad farming/bush burning practices.
Relief and Drainage
The Volta Lake and other streams drain the District. The Volta Lake runs virtually along the whole of the western boundary. It provides a thriving fishing ground for communities along the lake. Dzemeni provides the major fish landing and marketing center in the district. The Volta Lake also provides opportunity for lake transport. In addition, it provides great potentials for water sports, aqua culture and tourism. The District is surrounded by plateaus and conical hills posing threats especially in the area of flooding during heavy rainfalls. Mountains are 738 metres above sea level.
Traditional Setup
The indigenes are mainly Ewe-speaking people who like other Ewes in the region originally migrated from Notsie in the Republic of Togo in the 17th century, fleeing from the tyrannical rule of Togbe Agorkorli.
The District has four traditional areas namely Kpeve, Peki, Tongor and Kpalime. Each of the traditional areas is headed by a paramount chief. The traditional authorities administer stool and community lands by holding them in trust for the people as well as custodians of traditional beliefs and customs. The traditional authorities have traditional court which adjudicates matters relating to stool, lineage and family lands; chieftaincy title disputes, violation of traditions and disputes between localities, families and individuals.
The District celebrates festivals like Gbi-Dukorza by the Peki Traditional Area, Kpalikpakpaza by the Kpalime Traditional Area, Zendo by the Kpeve Traditional Area and Dunenyoza by the Tongor Traditional Area. During the celebration of the festivals, people from far and near come to entertain themselves with local dance like ‘borborbor” and “agbadza” and also support development initiatives through fund raising. It is also a time for family re-union and merry-making since natives from afar come back home to participate in the celebration.
The people of the District are homogeneous in terms of language and culture. All the people of the four traditional areas (Peki, Tongor, Kpalime and Kpeve) speak Ewe and share the same way of life. They are well united under their traditional leaders; hence they recognize and respect chieftaincy as a unifying institution. In terms of ethnicity, Ewes dominate the District constituting about 93.9 percent, followed by Ga-Adangbe (2.1%), Gurma (1.4%) and Akan (1.2%) with other ethnic groups (Guan, Mole-Dagbani, Grusi, Mande and Others) forming 1.4 percent (2010 PHC).
Religion
The people originally practiced traditional religion but its influence has since declined as a result of the influence of Christianity. Christianity is the predominant religion among the population (88.3 percent), followed by Traditional religion (3.8 percent) and Islam (3.3 percent). Other religion forms 0.6 percent whereas people who do not belong to any religion constitute about four percent. The predominant nature of Christianity in the District implies the readiness of the citizens to adopt programmes and projects that promotes Christian values.
Traditional Festivals
The District celebrates festivals like Gbi-Dukorza by the Peki Traditional Area, Kpalikpakpaza by the Kpalime Traditional Area, Zendo by the Kpeve Traditional Area and Dunenyoza by the Tongor Traditional Area. During the celebration of the festivals, people from far and near come to entertain themselves with local dance like ‘borborbor” and “agbadza” and also support development initiatives through fund raising. It is also a time for family re-union and merry-making since natives from afar come back home to participate in the celebration.
Traditional dance and music are basic attractions that abound in the District. The District has various kinds of music and dance forms. The people of Peki have dance forms like the Adehe which is perfom by hunters. This type of dance is always complemented by a traditional song known as Adeha with a particular drumming referred to as Adewu.
CLIENT SERVICE UNIT
It also provides information on the nature of operations at the Assembly.
It facilitates standardization of the services delivered by the Assembly and communicates to the public on the delivered service
EMERGENCY CLIENT SERVICE CONTACT NUMBER
0592 -55 01-33
SOCIAL WELFARE UNIT
Department of Social Welfare renders services to individuals, family, group, community and the nation as a whole.
SOUTH DAYI DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
SERVICES RENDERED BY SOCIAL WELFARE AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
• SUPERVISE THE DISBURSEMENT OF LIVELIHOOD
EMPOWERMENT AGAINST POVERTY (LEAP).
• ORGANIZE SKILL TRAININGS FOR WOMEN GROUPS AND
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs).
• CONDUCT COMMUNITY SENSITIZATIONS ON PERTINENT
SOCIAL ISSUES.
• REGISTER PWDs AND ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR NEEDS.
• RESOLVE MISSING CHILDREN RELATED ISSUES AND
REINTEGRATE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES
• CITIZENS ADVISORY BUREAU
• HANDLE CASES CONCERNING MAINTENANCE, ACCESS,
PATERNITY AND CUSTODY OF CHILDREN.
• SUPERVISE THE ACTIVITIES OF DAY CARE CENTERS, WOMEN
GROUPS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (NPO).
• FACILITATE THE PROVISION OF TEMPORAL SHELTER FOR
ABANDONED BABIES, MISSING CHILDREN, AND UNITE THEM
WITH THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES.
• ORGANIZE DURBARS ON CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES FOR
SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS AND COMMUNITY
BASE ORGANISATIONS.
SOCIAL WELFARE EMERGENCY HOTLINE
0594- 266-193