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Fodoa Senior High School (FOSEC) in the Kwahu West Municipality took a proactive step in disaster prevention by launching a Disaster Prevention Club in collaboration with the Kwahu West Municipal NADMO Secretariat. The school hosted a team led by Alhaji Mohammed Hamidu, the Municipal Director, for an education and sensitization program aimed at equipping students and teachers with knowledge on disaster prevention and creating awareness in the community. The morning session, which commenced at 7:30am, saw over 200 students and seven teachers gather at FOSEC to participate in the informative and engaging program. The team from the Kwahu West Municipal NADMO Secretariat included key officials such as the Deputy Municipal Director, Daniel Agyekum Ansah, the Administrator, Andrew Ofosu Ansong, and several Zonal Directors. The primary objective of the meeting was to raise awareness and empower the attendees to become Disaster Prevention Agents within their school and the wider community. The formation of the Disaster Prevention Club is part of an initiative by the municipal secretariat to involve second cycle institutions, both private and government-owned, in disaster-related activities. The educational program covered various aspects of disaster prevention and preparedness. It began with an introduction to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and its crucial role in managing and mitigating the impact of disasters. The students and teachers were familiarized with NADMO’s activities, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and swift response during emergencies. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to understanding different types of disasters that commonly occur in the Kwahu West Municipality. Participants gained insights into the prevailing disasters and their potential consequences. Of particular focus was flood prevention, considering its recurrent nature in the local area. Addressing domestic fire incidents and their prevention formed another vital component of the program. Causes of household fires were discussed, accompanied by practical fire prevention measures. Students and teachers were urged to prioritize fire safety in their homes and actively participate in disseminating fire prevention knowledge throughout the community. Promoting responsible waste disposal practices was highlighted as an essential aspect of disaster prevention. The participants were educated on the proper methods of waste management, emphasizing the environmental risks associated with improper disposal. By encouraging responsible waste practices, the community can reduce the likelihood of environmental disasters. The importance of tree planting and the upcoming June 9th Green Ghana Day were also emphasized during the session. Students and teachers were urged to actively engage in tree planting initiatives and play their part in raising awareness about environmental conservation. At the conclusion of the program, the newly formed Disaster Prevention Club was officially launched at FOSEC. The club aims to empower students as Disaster Prevention Agents and serve as representatives of the school in NADMO and disaster-related activities. This initiative aligns with the municipality’s broader vision of actively involving educational institutions in disaster prevention efforts. As the sensitization and education exercise ended at around 9:30am, participants expressed gratitude for the valuable knowledge they acquired during the program. The launch of the Disaster Prevention Club marks a significant step forward in fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience among the students and teachers of Fodoa SHS. To ensure the longevity of the program’s impact, it is recommended that regular meetings, workshops, and collaborations with relevant stakeholders be organized by the Disaster Prevention Club. By doing so, Fodoa SHS and the wider community can enhance their disaster preparedness and prevention measures, creating a safer and more resilient environment for all.

On Friday, April 21st, 2023, the Honourable Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) alongside the Municipal Co-ordinating Director (MCD), Heads of Departments, and all the Assembly staff donated items to the Muslim community in the Municipality to aid them in their Eid Ul-Fitr celebration.

The donation, which included 16 bags of rice, 10 boxes of oil, and 8 boxes of tomato paste, was warmly welcomed by the Chief Imam and his entourage, who expressed their gratitude to the MCE and the Assembly staff for their kind gesture.

During the brief ceremony, the MCE welcomed the Chief Imam and his entourage and thanked them for their support and prayers during the Ramadan period. He also commended them for their efforts in promoting peace in the Zongo Community through their guidance and supervision of the youth.

The MCE reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that every person in the Municipality receives a fair share of the Assembly’s resources and aid, and that the donation was just a small part of that effort.

The Chief Imam, on behalf of the Muslim community, expressed his gratitude for the donation and stated that the items would help put smiles on the faces of some needy families in the Muslim community during the Eid Ul-Fitr celebration. He also promised to continue praying for the Municipality’s progress and peaceful co-existence in their communities.

The donation was a testament to the Honourable MCE’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and fostering a sense of community in the Municipality.

Under the leadership of Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo, the Kwahu West Municipality celebrated Ghana’s 66th National Independence Day. The event commemorated the country’s independence on 6th March 1957 under Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and subsequent ceremonial President. Themed “Our Unity, Our Strength, and Our Purpose,” the celebration emphasized the importance of unity and peace for Ghana’s continued progress.

During the 6th March parade, Hon. Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive for Kwahu West, highlighted the significance of national unity.

“What we need as a nation at this point is unity. As it is said, we are only as strong as we are united and as weak as we are divided. Unity doesn’t mean we won’t have differences, but differences are beneficial as they make us unique individuals,” he stated.

Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo further explained that as a nation, the collective goal is to build a better Ghana for present and future generations.

“We can only achieve our common goal if we unite and become stronger. When our goals, interests, and purposes align, we can create a better Ghana,” he added.

He took the opportunity to urge traditional authorities in the Kwahu region to unite and contribute to the development of Kwahu land and Ghana as a whole.

“I would like to use this opportunity to encourage our traditional authorities in Kwahu to unite and actively contribute to the growth and development of Kwahu land,” he emphasized.

Additionally, he announced that the municipality has implemented measures to enhance economic development. These include the introduction of an on-street parking project to manage traffic congestion, improve street lighting, and ensure the safety of all road users in Nkawkaw.

He also highlighted the plan to improve infrastructure within the central business district of Nkawkaw. This involves installing street lights to enhance security, erecting road signs for better direction, designating strategic areas as bus stops, and reconstructing the Nkawkaw central market.

“I urge you all to provide your utmost cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of these policies when they are rolled out,” he urged.

Concluding his address, Lawyer Owusu Addo stressed the importance of sanitation and called on everyone to maintain cleanliness in their environment, as it is often said that cleanliness is next to godliness.

CHILD PROTECTION REPORT (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

The Disability Fund Management Committee (DFMC) carried out a disbursement exercise on December 22, 2022, in accordance with the government’s directive to MMDAs to stop giving unsustainable physical cash to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and instead to equip them with sustainable business items.

The beneficiaries received items from Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo, Mr. Peter Kwabla Tetteh, the Municipal Coordinating Director, and Hon. Emmanuel Boansi-Darkwa, the Presiding Member, including deep freezers, sewing machines, cocoa spraying machines, bags of maize, and yam tubers. The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, in conjunction with the DFMC and Federation of the Associations of PWDs, coordinated the disbursement program.

In his speech in the Municipal Assembly’s forecourt, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo, stated that the government was committed to improving the quality of life for all Ghanaians, particularly the less fortunate citizens of the nation. The Government has switched from providing cash support to providing products that generate income in order to make them productive and also increase their wellness.

He added that the presentation should be considered as a step against poverty because it would allow people to engage in economic activities to support their own livelihoods. He also advised them against considering selling the items rather than using them more effectively.He underlined that they needed to take good care of the things and that there would be regular checks to see how their commercial endeavors were doing. The Hon. MCE then expressed his gratitude to the DFMC and Social Welfare for their assistance and asked them to keep up the good work.

The Municipal Chairman of the Ghana Federation of Disability (GFD), Mr. Joseph Abankwah, thanked the government for prioritizing the needs of PWDs and asked the recipients to make good use of the donated goods to enhance their quality of life. He also pleaded with those who did not benefit to remain hopeful because the program was still going strong and their turn will come soon.

The recipients expressed their sincere gratitude to the Assembly for taking them into consideration and pledged to use the resources wisely in ways that would benefit them.

The Kwahu West Municipality celebrated its Farmers’ Day a week ahead of the National Farmers’ Day, with a call for businessmen and women to invest in agricultural production, processing, and marketing. The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo, made the call at the celebration held in Saafi, one of the towns in the municipality.

The MCE, in his address on the theme “Accelerating Agricultural Development Through Value Addition,” highlighted the importance of value addition in resolving the issues facing the agricultural sector. He encouraged Kwahu businessmen and women both at home and abroad to partner with the Assembly to create a sustainable local food system that would provide more employment opportunities for farmers, particularly the youth.

Mr. Francis Dogbese, the Municipal Agriculture Director, also emphasized the significance of value addition in agriculture production. He congratulated the award winners and urged them to continue to work hard to ensure food security for the Municipality and the country as a whole.

At the event, 16 deserving farmers were awarded for their hard work, with Mr. Bob Abdulai from Ekowso emerging as the overall best farmer. He received a certificate, a tricycle, a wheelbarrow, two pairs of Wellington boots, a Knapsack sprayer, and five cutlasses.

The Kwahu West Municipality has vast arable land suitable for agriculture activities, and under the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme, the Municipality has so far distributed a total of 150 bags of seed maize and 300 sachets of cabbage seeds to 792 beneficiary farmers. The inputs covered both male and female farmers and aimed to increase production to supply the requirements of processing industries in the country.

The District Farmers’ Day celebration in the Eastern Region was ahead of the National Farmers’ Day, scheduled for December 2, 2022, as the Eastern Region was to host the National Farmers’ Day celebration

List of Food Vendors for 2022 (Click to Download)

In accordance with the United Nations’ observation of October 13 as a day of reminding the world about the need to reduce the risk of disasters, the Kwahu West Municipal NADMO Secretariat held this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR) Celebrations at Kwahu Fodoa. The durbar was held under the Chairmanship of the Krontihene of Kwahu Fodoa.

In attendance were NADMO staff, the Municipal NADMO Director, Alhaji Mohammed Hamidu and his deputy, Mr. Daniel Agyekum Ansah, the Queenmother of Fodoa and other traditional heads from the palace, the Hon. Municipal Chief Executive, Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Peter Tetteh Kwabla, members from the Municipal Disaster Management Committee such as Municipal Education Director, Municipal Fire Commander, Municipal Health Director, Municipal Environmental Health Director, MP’s Rep etc; and other officers from the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly.

Also present at the event were teachers and pupils from the Fodoa SHS and Fodoa Basic School. The community folks were also present in their numbers to make the program a great success

As part of efforts to ensure local inclusiveness and integration to achieve development for the people, the Hon. MCE embarked on community engagements to 3 communities in the Municipality on Thursday, 1^st September, 2022.  The purpose of the gathering was to solicit ideas on areas of concern to the indigenes, to address their challenges and the communal way forward.

Present at the engagement were Hon. Joseph Frempong (MP), Hon. Boansi Darkwa (PM), Party representatives, traditional and opinion leaders, some selected technical staff and the media. Issues of discussion centered on illegal mining, roads, trade, LEAP, education and agriculture, to name a few.

In the Hon. MCE’s remarks, he said in order for a community to enjoy its share of the national cake, the government needs to know the various needs of the community, hence the engagement. He further encouraged the communities to take advantage of self-development projects and to collaborate with well-off indigenes and the Assembly’s support to initiate community projects.

He charged the gathering to take advantage of government policies such as free education and One District One Factory (1D1F). He tasked the leaders of the towns to ensure that every child of school going age is enrolled in school.

Addressing some of the concerns raised, he mentioned access roads would be created for the expansion of the communities and expressed his worry about the influx of foreigners in the communities engaging in illegal mining, with another adverse effect of the rise in teenage pregnancies in such communities.

The Hon. Presiding Member expressed his appreciation to the gathering for honoring management’s invitation and encouraged community to patronize activities of the Assembly. He further tasked the community to protect and maintain existing government facilities.

The Hon. MP, advised the youth to engage in craft work and agriculture. He besought the communities to remain patient with the government as it is on course to deliver all promises made during the 2020 election campaigns.

The Nana Odikro of Wisiwisi expressed the communities’ gratefulness to the government for efforts in developing his community. He was especially thankful for the completion of the road extending from Abepotia to Oda.

On Thursday, 18th August 2022, Hon. MCE, Lawyer Owusu Addo paid a courtesy call on the chiefs and people of Nsuta, Abanase, and Nkawkaw Zongo to deliberate on issues of concern to the communities.

The issues discussed centered around Electricity, Sanitation, Security, Children and Gender, Road, Trade, Water and Education.

Hon. MCE was accompanied by Hon. Boansi Darkwa (Presiding Member), Mr. Andy Ameyaw (NPP Consituency Chairman, Nkawkaw), a Representative from the Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw’s office and key management staff of the Assembly.

Addressing the forum, Hon. MCE expressed his gratitude to the chiefs and people gathered for giving him the opportunity to engage them and reiterated that this was how local government should be.

He mentioned he was mandated to bring governance to the doorstep of the people, and therefore it was in order to see him on such occasion to interact with the people, and address their concerns and also to trumpet the good works of the Assembly.

Also, he stated that Nsuta and Abanase have had a fair share of government road projects and took the opportunity to announce to the people that government has allotted 17 kilometers of road to Nkawkaw and promised the inner roads within the Zongo community would not be left out.

Participants of the program included chiefs, religious leaders, Assembly Members, Security Personnel among others.