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07.12.2017 Politics

Group Push For Tafo As Capital Of Akyem Abuakwa North In Honour Of J.B. Danquah

By MyJoyOnline
Group Push For Tafo As Capital Of Akyem Abuakwa North In Honour Of J.B. Danquah
07.12.2017 LISTEN

Some youth of Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, have petitioned President Akufo-Addo to make the town the capital of yet-to-be created Akyem Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly.

The youth said this will be a befitting way to honour the memory of late Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu.

The Akyem Tafo Youth Movement (ATYM) in a petition addressed to Executive Secretary to the president, Nana Asante Badiatuo, stated several economic and political reasons why Tafo must be the choice for the capital.

They cited the fact that the former MP “who was brutally murdered on the 9th of February 2016 was an illustrious son of Tafoland.”

“He served the constituency so well and won the hearts and admirations of all. He was a philanthropist and aside from his duties as an MP, catered for several children, widows and many more in his area far and wide.

“We the youth, deem it a great opportunity for the Municipal Capital to be in Akyem Tafo and a hall at the Assembly building named in his honour; for he died a hero while serving the land,” stated the petition.

The government on November 16, 2017, laid before Parliament a Legislative Instrument (LI) for the creation of some Thirty-Eight (38) new Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.

The proposed Legislative Instrument includes the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly which has been carved out of East-Akim Municipal Assembly. Some of the towns within the proposed municipal includes Akyem Tafo, Kukurantumi, Osiem, Anyinasin, Obodanse, Tontro, Nobi, among others.

However, the petition jointly signed by President of the youth movement, says "it is of the strong and firm belief that no other town within the Municipality is more qualified for the Municipal capital of the proposed Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly" due to its effective and vibrant local economy which is needed to promote the development of the indigenes.

Read the statement below:
Petition to make Akyem Tafo the capital of the proposed Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly

Article 241 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that for the purposes of local government, Ghana shall be deemed to have been divided into the districts in existence immediately before the coming into force of the Constitution.

In view of this provision, the government on Thursday, November 16, 2017, laid before Parliament a Legislative Instrument (LI) for the creation of some Thirty-Eight (38) new Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.

The proposed Legislative Instrument includes the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly which has been carved out of East-Akim Municipal Assembly. Some of the towns within the proposed municipal includes Akyem Tafo, Kukurantumi, Osiem, Anyinasin, Obodanse, Tontro, Nobi, just to mention a few.

Metropolitans, Municipals and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are created to deepen democracy and promote development. It is therefore important to situate the capital of an Assembly in a town where the local economy is effectively viable to promote the development of the indigenes.

In order to achieve the above goal, no town is more qualified to lead this charge than Akyem Tafo and we the Akyem Tafo Youth Movement (ATYM) present these reasons to substantiate our argument.

History & Population
Akyem Tafo (Old Tafo and New Tafo) is the oldest town within the constituency. In 1904, the Railway line from Kumasi to Accra passed through Tafo where a Station was created. This motivated the indigenes especially the traders to settle around the Railway Station to ply their trade, resulting in the creation of New Tafo.

These towns (Old and New Tafo) are under one chief and jurisdiction. The following communities are under Akyem Tafo: Osiem, Ettokrom, Tontro, Boso Odumase, Brimso, Fischer, Boate, Pekyi, Aboabo, Atwenemamona, Anhwiabeng, Nobi-Beyera, Obodanase, Bediasi, Asikesu and other small villages. The creation of the railway line attracted a lot of companies such as Cadbury, UAC, PZ, CFAO, UTC and AG Leventis which later became GNTC.

It is worth mentioning that a District Office was created in Tafo in the 1st Republic with the late Owiredu and Boapea as the District Commissioners. Their residence is now been used by the Seed Production Unit and Cocoa Health Extension Divisions of Cocobod. The population of New Tafo alone according to the 2010 population and housing census is 31,477 and that of Old Tafo is 6,037. The voters’ population of Old and New Tafo is 19,734 which exceeds all towns within the Abuakwa North Constituency.

Electoral Area
Out of 16 Electoral Areas in Abuakwa North, Akyem Tafo Traditional Area has 9 electoral areas namely: Ati-Amanfrom, Ati-Ahenbronom, Mangoase, CRIG, Dar-El-Salam, Nobi Bayera, Anweabeng, Ahenbronom and Abaase, The Tafo area covers a wider space in the proposed Abuakwa North Municipality and injustice will be greatly served the people if another town other than Tafo is made the capital. The registered voters in Akyem Tafo supersede all the other areas.

Economic Viability
The biggest market within the proposed Municipal Assembly is situated in New Tafo Akim. The market contributes almost 50% of revenue to the current Assembly which comes second to royalties paid by mining companies within the current Assembly (East-Akim Municipal). Most Small Scale and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are also located within our town and provide some informal jobs for the local people in terms of artisanship which also help improve revenue generation.

In addition, the town boasts of institutions like Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) which covers an area over one square mile; Cocoa Health and Extension Division all subsidiaries of COCOBOD and Tree Global which contribute substantially to the local economy of the Assembly. Other facilities such as hotels, guest houses, and recreation parks within the Tafo vicinity aid in revenue generation since all these facilities pay property rate and Business Operating Permits (BOP) to the Assembly.

Besides, there are more of commercial and community banks situated within Tafo as compared to other towns within the Municipality. The Post Office established in New Tafo in 1917 has been the central post office for all the towns in the Constituency. It is noteworthy that all revenue collectors in the Abuakwa North area work directly under the officer in Tafo.

Infrastructure
Every community develops when there are basic social amenities such as water, electricity, hospitals, police station, Court for adjudication of cases, among others. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), the Electoral Commission, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Birth and Death Registry, the Judicial Service, the District Council and the District Police Station have their District Offices in Tafo.

The Magistrate Court in Tafo serves all the towns in Abuakwa North. There is also the New Tafo Government hospital which has the capacity to be extended to a District Hospital. Such facilities allow smooth running of every Assembly and Akyem Tafo is blessed to have them all. This will help government not to spend additional funds of the taxpayer in putting up new buildings, if anything at all; it will be an upgrade of the existing structures.

In addition, an office for the Municipal Chief Executive can be created within the Tafo Town Council Building which houses the Judiciary Service. The Council Building has residential quarters attached to it and vast land around it for expansion. This goes a long way to save the public purse as the government aims to cut down on high expenditure and build up a voluntary fund for the Free SHS policy.

Tourism and Social Centres
The Akyem Tafo town has tourism sites and social centres for social events. Among them include the CRIG Golf Park, CRIG Recreation Centre, the Dam site, and Presbyterian Event Hall. These facilities provide an avenue for people to have social events such as weddings, funerals, visitations and excursions for school children, especially on holidays.

The CRIG Golf Park is one of the most utilized golf parks in the country. It does not serve only the indigenes as people come from all over the country to use the facility. The traditional festival in Okyeman, Ohumkan Festival has its roots in Tafo and is centralised there with all rituals performed by the chief and elders of Tafo. This festival attracts people from all walks of life including tourists to Akyem Tafo during this period.

Honour of late MP Hon. J.B. Danquah Adu
The late MP who was brutally murdered on the 9th of February 2016 was an illustrious son of Tafoland. He served the constituency so well and won the hearts and admirations of all. He was a philanthropist and aside his duties as an MP, catered for several children, widows and many more in his area far and wide.

We the youth, deem it a great opportunity for the Municipal Capital to be in Akyem Tafo and a hall at the Assembly building named in his honour; for he died a hero while serving the land.

Conclusion
We the Akyem Tafo Youth Movement (ATYM) is of the strong and firm belief that no other town within the Municipality is more qualified for the Municipal capital of the proposed

Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly other than Akyem Tafo due to the reasons laid bare in this petition. Justice would not be served if a decision is taken on some other considerations other than socio-economic and developmental factors which contribute to the well-being of the masses.

Section 1 (4b) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) dictates that, “the geographical contiguity and economic viability of the area, namely, the ability of the area to provide the basic infrastructural and any other developmental needs from the monetary and any other resources generated in the area” It is against this backdrop that we write this petition to you to consider Akyem Tafo as the Municipal Capital of the proposed Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly.

We humbly submit this petition for your consideration and informed decision.

Signed:
Nana Adwoa A. Adusei-Peasah (President)
Emmanuel Osei Asibey (Financial Secretary).
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy

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