Prestea Hunni-Valley Assembly in focus

The MP, Francis Kwesi Adu Blay, and the DCE, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, commissioning the electrification project(left), MP Francis Kwesi Adu Blay cutting the sod for the six unit classroom block(right)

THE Prestea Huni- Valley District  Assembly has initiated a number of developmental projects to help address the myriad of both educational and social problems in some communities in the District.

The lined up projects, which cut across the area of education and provision of electricity, have been spread evenly to benefit each community.

In the area of education, four communities are to benefit from a six-unit classroom block with office and store and library each. The beneficiary communities are Insu, Subri, Aiyinam and Kwametsetseakrom.

Separate sod-cutting ceremonies have been performed by both the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, and the Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Francis Kwesi Adu Blay.

The contractor executing the projects has a period of four months to complete them. Each project is estimated at a cost of GH¢150,000.

At Aiyinam, where a six-unit classroom block is to be constructed, the Western File observed that the project was going be a relief for the large number of pupils who are congested in a classroom block.

A classroom block in the aforementioned community is being shared by pupils in the Kindergarten and Class Three. This problem has made teaching and learning difficult.

What is more, because of the absence of a Junior High School (JHS) in the community, stydents, upon completion of their primary education, have to trek three kilometres daily on a dusty road to Prestea to continue their education.

Others abruptly end their education, because of the fear of trekking the three-kilometre journey on a daily basis to continue with their JHS education.

This situation has stalled the progress of education in the community. It is for this reason that the Assembly has gone to the rescue of the community, to construct a six-unit classroom block for the community.

Cutting the sod for the commencement of the project, the DCE expressed the hope that the contractor would be able to complete the project in four months, to enable the pupils put an end to the problem of trekking to continue their JHS education.

He added that it was the priority of the Assembly to remove all classes under trees, and further expressed the hope that with the collaboration of all stakeholders, the problem would be addressed.

The MP, on his part, thanked the Chief and elders of the town for releasing land for the project. The Chief of the area, Nana Kwame Abeam II, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the DCE and the MP for siting the project in his community.

He said the speed at which both the DCE and the MP responded to his request to build a JHS block for his community, speaks of the fact that the two were indeed servants.

At the Insu community, the Assembly is also putting up a six-unit Islamic classroom block to serve the Muslim community in the area. The project also has four months to be completed.

At Anlo-Nkwanta, the Assembly, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), has also put up a six-unit classroom block to serve the pupils in the area. The project, which is 70% complete, would be finished in two months.

ELECTRIFICATION
In the area of electrification, the Assembly is to connect a total of 65 communities to the national grid by the end of next year. Currently, 25 communities have been hooked onto the national grid, with others in the process of being attached.

Four communities, Kodua, Appiatse, Anlokrom and Manhutem, have had their electricity power supply commissioned at a grand durbar.

The ceremony saw Robert Wisdom Cudjoe and Francis Blay commission the electrification project.

Third General Assembly Meeting
The Prestea Hunni-Valley Assembly held its third General Assembly meeting, with a call on its members to work harder in the coming year.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, who made the call, commended the assembly members and staff for their commitment, understanding and co-operation, which have contributed in pushing ahead the development programme of the Assembly.

The DCE told the members: 'As we enter 2012, let us collectively resolve to even work harder than before to achieve our common goals and objectives.'

Continuing, DCE Cudjoe told the meeting that a total of GH 385,727.99 was generated under the Assembly's Internally Generated Fund (IGF), as at October 2011. This represents an increase from 72% to 80% achievement of the annual target between August 2011 and October 2011.

The Assembly, according to the DCE, however, budgeted to collect a total sum of GH¢4,690,130.93 for the year 2011, and as at 31st October, the amount collected stood at GH¢3,494,510, representing 75%, which is an improvement over the August 2011 figure of GH¢2,395.177.79, which was 51% of the estimated amount.

The DCE continued that the total amount received from the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) stood at of GH¢781,121.55, but rose to GH¢1,558.575.00 as at 31st October 2011. The amount is however lower than the GH¢1,651,506, which was received during the same period in 2010.

The Assembly also budgeted to receive an amount of GH¢1,925,510.55 under the District Assemblies Common Fund in 2011, however, as at 31st October 2011, the total amount received stood at GH¢1,324.613.04, which represent 69% of total projection. There are all indications that the Assembly is not likely to meet its annual projected target for the year.