NiPDA’s Public Hearing, stakeholder engagement and Town Hall Meeting

In the event of accessing the performance of the Assembly, on the previous year under review, the Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NiPDA) organized a public hearing and town hall meeting for stakeholders on Tuesday 7th June 2022 at the Ebenezer Methodist Church Prampram.

The public hearing is to update stakeholders about the state of the assembly in terms of revenue mobilization, developmental progress and the presentation of the four- year Medium Term Development Plan (2022-2024) developed for the assembly, based on contributions and advice solicited from the same stakeholders during the consultation period.

The year 2021, was reviewed in terms of revenue performance and disbursement of such, to the appreciation of the stakeholders.

In attendance, at the hearing were the District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. AL-Latiff Tetteh Amanor, traditional leaders, Assembly Members, unit committee members as well as the various departmental heads of the assembly.

Addressing the gathering, the Hon. DCE applauded all the stakeholders for gracing the public hearing and admonished all to be ready to assist in building a formidable District.

He mentioned that the various issues confronting the District were enormous and it is even beyond the district level in terms of solutions. He noted that the district needs to be elevated to a municipal status given the required criteria and the rapid development of the communities. It was his earnest prayers that the district is elevated to Municipal Status.

He added that “the Ningo-Prampram District is not a small one; we have what it takes to be elevated to a municipal status. All will depend on us to achieve that aim if only we want to attain that status”.

In that regard, the development of the district demands planning and implementation of those plans.

Therefore, the Assistant District Planning Analyst, Mr. Godsway Kotoku presented the four-year development plan (2022-2025) of the assembly to the stakeholders for consideration. He indicated that the development plan serves as a tool to check the performance and the direction the district. It serves as a reference in terms of socio-economic progress in the District. The plan he added, is subject to review at the end of the period.

The Medium-Term Development Plan (2022-2025) highlighted some important challenges confronting the district which needed prompt attention. Some of the challenges are poor lighting system, poor drainage system, unemployment, land litigation issues, poor road networks, and improvement of our health facilities.

Mr. Kotoku made the stakeholders to appreciate the benefits when the development plan is implemented to the latter.

The District would build resilience, have improved social support system, ensure quality health care is accessible for all, improved socio-economic well-being of the citizens, a clean and safe environment as well as quality and accessible education for all.

There were pictorial presentation of developmental projects carried out in the previous medium term plan.

In terms of budgeting, the District Budget Officer, Mrs. Ayorkor Ayayee also in her presentation, made it known to the participants that the revenue generation is from three sources; the Central Government of Ghana (GOG), Internal Generated Funds (IGF), and Donors.

These sources of revenues are used in the daily operations of the assembly. In the presentation, the donor funding forms a small portion making the District depend heavily on the GoG and IGF funding. Equally worrying is the deficit in the approved budget and the actual amounts generated internally. Clearly the Internally Generated Funds are not forth coming for use on these plans. This derails the developmental progress of the District. She urged participants to come aboard to educate the communities on their civic responsibilities to the district.

She mentioned that for the district to prepare an effective budget, depends on the developmental plans of the assembly. The budgeting office will have to plan and implement thereafter and bring it to the general assembly for approval. Nothing is done in isolation is emphasized.

As far as education on government policies matters, the District Information Officer, Mrs. Vida Annang explained the government policy on E-Levy to the understanding of all . she highlighted that there are some misconceptions about the policy therefore Ghana Revenue Authority has mandated that education should be carried out.

The policy says “if you keep money on your mobile money wallet, E-Levy is NOT applicable. In the same vein, if you cash in with a mobile money agent, the E-Levy would NOT apply. If you withdraw money from your mobile money wallet as well you are exempted from the payment of the E-Levy.” Mobile money users can as well transact money transfers to maximum of a hundred cedis (100) a day which is also free from E-Levy taxation.

The E-Levy is only applied on transfers more than a hundred cedis a day and transfers from a wallet to a different wallet account. She encouraged the public to freely use the convenience of the mobile money services.

After the various presentation from the district representatives, the stakeholders contributed to the development of the district. Some concerns were on the non-payment of tolls by some residents. In response to that effect, Mrs. Ayayee said management has devised means or strategy as discussed at F&A but it has yet to be approved. Others were of the view, that people do not visibly see development in their areas, therefore, they have refused not to pay.

The DCE advised that education should be intensified, and let the people see what their monies are used for.

He informed last Sunday he was at Mataheko during the rainfall to access the flooding situation. He encouraged the residents that the district is ever ready to help improve the condition.

Therefore they should help with their tolls. Secondly, he informed the District Engineer that the urban roads have planned for Mataheko, Mobole road network to be looked at once and for all.

All those who have buildings along the waterways will be dealt with as instructed by the president and therefore he will ensure within three weeks the district bye-laws will be gazette for execution to be carried out on those buildings along the waterways.