The Deputy Minister for Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development Augustine Collins Ntim has paid a working visit to the Wenchi Municipality.
The purpose of the visit was to monitor and assess government flagship programmes and projects being undertaken in the Municipality. The visit was to evaluate the progress and impact of these flagship programmes and policies on the lives of the people. It was also to consolidate the gains made to help in policy formulation and targeting.
In his Welcome Address, the Municipal Chief Executive Alexander Obour Damoah presented comprehensive reports on the status of the government flagship programmes and projects in the Municipality and achievements made in various Sectors particularly Agriculture, Education, Health, amongst others.
Addressing Chiefs, Heads and Staff of Department of the Assembly, External Organisations, Development Partners and other Stakeholders, A.C Ntim also the Member of Parliament for Offinso North stressed that the rationale for government’s intervention policy initiatives was to improve the life of the people. He said the monitoring tour was to help government in policy formulation and implementation to serve the intended objectives.
Presentations were made on Agriculture, Health and Education Sectors by the Sector Heads and Representatives highlighting the gains made. The Municipal Director for Agriculture Emmanuel Kwabena Afful made the presentation on his sector. Modernisation of Agriculture (MAG), Planting for Food & Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export & Rural Development (PERD), Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP) Phase I & II, Women in Agriculture, were some of the Agricultural programmes implemented in the Municipality. Some key achievements in the Agric Sector include; established Cassava and Livestock Innovation Platform for improved market linkage, acquired tractor and accessories for Branam FarmerBased Organisations, trained and supported over 10,000 cashew farmers, linked maize federation groups to marketers such as Yerdent and Agrocenta, trained and created employment for women under Soyabean utilisation programme, reclaimed 50 hectares of degradable lands for cashew plantation, amongst others.
The Disease Control Officer George Agyemang made presentation on behalf of the Health Directorate. The Municipality has 3 Hospitals, 6 Health Centres, 9 Community Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds and 1 Government Maternity Home.
On Education, 20 pregnant and nursing mothers were brought back to school. 71 Basic School Heads were supplied with Laptops and Modems. Some educational institutions have been installed with Wi-Fi network and internet. Ten (10) Girls were awarded with Laptops under Girls in ICT Project. 89 .9% Pass Rate was recorded in the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), amongst many achievements, the PRO David Baffoe for the Education Directorate.
The Deputy Minister was impressed about the progress and gains made. He assured government’s commitment to impact the lives of the people.