The meeting began at 10:05am with an opening prayer by the District Planning Officer. The Chairman, in his opening remarks welcomed members and expressed his appreciation to them for turning up for the meeting. He led members through a self-introduction session and further asked for their cooperation and participation in the day’s deliberations. He subsequently wished members a fruitful discussion.
First Quarter Activities by Departments and Units Department of Agric
- The department conducted 630 home and farm visits to deliver agriculture extension services to 5,920 farmers (males – 3,988 and females – 1,932).
- The department conducted crop demonstration on multiplication of pepper seedlings for 20 farmers (males – 15 and females – 5)
- The department sensitized, provided technical guidance, monitored and registered farmers (185 farmers registered) on the module 2.0 of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme. The commodities cultivated under the module include cassava, maize and onion.
- The department administered vaccinations and prophylactic treatments for livestock.
Challenges:
The major challenges faced by the department in implementing their activities had to do with inadequate funds and staff to fully implement planned activities.
National Commission for Civic Education
- The Commission collaborated with the Ghana Enterprise Agency to sensitize communities on tax compliance of small scale businesses
- The Commission collaborated with the Care for Society Network International to sensitize communities on online bullying
- The Commission organized an educational excursion to the Osino district court on the role of the court in strengthening democracy for learners.
- The commission also joined the Church of Pentecost, District Assembly and Zoom lion Company Limited to embark on clean up exercises.
Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit
- The unit supervised and supported disinfection and fumigation exercises at public facilities and centres in Osino, Dwenase, Abompe, Gyampomani and Ehiamankyene.
- The unit embarked on market sanitation exercise at the Ehiamankyene market.
- The unit collaborated with the Church of Pentecost to organize clean up exercises at the Osino lorry station, drains leading to Saamang road, drains leading to Dwenase road, drains in front of the Mumuadu bank and Osino market.
- The unit trained e- waste and scrap dealers on good waste management practices and health and safety protocols.
- The unit embarked on hygiene inspections to residences, eateries and drinking premises, health facilities and mining centres.
- The unit embarked on school health education to sensitized schools on waste management and personal hygiene
The unit collaborated with World Vision to provide water facilities at Pimpimso, Adjeikrom and Bosuso.
Challenges;
Lack of dedicated vehicle and motorbikes to aid with mobility and inadequate furnishing at the area council offices.
Health Directorate
- The directorate organized the 2023 Annual Performance Review meeting.
- The directorate partook in the holistic assessment exercise where they accessed Nsawam Adoagyire Municipal and were assessed by the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly.
- The directorate commemorated the World Tuberculosis Day on the 24th of March.
- The directorate implemented the National Malaria Control programme through the mass distribution of long-lasting mosquito nets to households. The directorate received and distributed 28,800 mosquito nets.
- The directorate collaborated with the Okyeman Environmental Foundation to sensitize Saamang, Abompe and Dwenase communities on galamsey activities.
- The directorate also organized health screening exercises for the Dwenase community.
Challenges;
The directorate is faced with inadequate health personnel, lack of land documentation for health facilities. The directorate raised concerns on the Hemang nurses’ quarters not in use after construction and also pleaded for the renovation of the Osino and Bosuso health centre and nurses’ accommodation.
Education Directorate
- The directorate organized circuit – based teacher engagement meetings with public and private schools.
- The directorate organized community engagements at the Ayiesu
Besia and Besia communities to engage communities’ members on the welfare of learners.
- The directorate engaged with parents of JHS 3 students to discuss measures to improve district performance in the 2024 BECE.
- The directorate also conducted monitoring, supervision and inspection to schools.
- The directorate organized the 67th Independence Day zonal quiz and debate for Senior High Schools.
- The directorate commenced the 2024 inter – circuit games festival at the Bosuso circuit.
- The directorate participated in the launch of the Obaa Nhweso Mentoring Initiative by Care Ghana International aimed at empowering and fostering academic excellence for young girls.
- The directorate organized a refresher training workshop for all kindergarten teachers in the district.
Challenges;
The directorate is faced with inadequate office equipment and dilapidated classroom blocks at the Osino Presby Basic, Adjeikrom Presby primary and Bomodwen Presby primary. The directorate also raised concern on schools not having any land documentation.
Works Department
The department inspected and monitored ongoing projects in the district.
- The department collaborated with the physical planning department on development control exercise.
Physical Planning Department
- The department received 20 building plans to be approved after meeting the necessary requirements.
- The department had written letters to mining companies to assist with preparing local plans
- The department continued with the street naming and addressing exercise.
Statistics Department
- The department assisted in revenue database updates and embarked on revenue data collection exercise.
- The department registered and updated the asset register database.
- The department carried out the Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) I. Of the 4,794 establishments to be enumerated, 4,321 establishments were enumerated.
- The department compiled administrative data of selected government institutions and departments for validation.
Discussion on the presentations
Documentation of lands for health and education facilities in the district The District Director for health raised concerns on health facilities in the district not having the needed land documentation. This she said has resulted in encroachment of lands for the facilities by community members. The Chairperson tasked the Physical Planning Officer to initiate the process of acquiring land documents for the various health and education facilities.
- The department collaborated with the physical planning department on development control exercise.
Physical Planning Department
- The department received 20 building plans to be approved after meeting the necessary requirements.
- The department had written letters to mining companies to assist with preparing local plans
- The department continued with the street naming and addressing exercise.
Statistics Department
- The department assisted in revenue database updates and embarked on revenue data collection exercise.
- The department registered and updated the asset register database.
- The department carried out the Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) I. Of the 4,794 establishments to be enumerated, 4,321 establishments were enumerated.
- The department compiled administrative data of selected government institutions and departments for validation.
Discussion on the presentations
Documentation of lands for health and education facilities in the district The District Director for health raised concerns on health facilities in the district not having the needed land documentation. This she said has resulted in encroachment of lands for the facilities by community members. The Chairperson tasked the Physical Planning Officer to initiate the process of acquiring land documents for the various health and education facilities.
Mining activities in the Saamang community
A member brought to the notice of the house the damaged being done by some miners on roads constructed within the Saamang community. A member also bemoaned the activities of miners in that area, citing the diversion and pollution of river bodies in the area. A member suggested the warning letters be served to the miners and follow up with legal action if the expected outcomes are not met.
Hemang Nurses’ Quarters
A member raised concern about the Hemang nurses’ quarters stating that the facility has not been put to use yet after its completion in 2018. The District Works Engineer responded that there was still some work to be done to fully complete the project before it could be occupied. He pleaded with management to commit some funds to complete the project.