NiPDA Organises a Town Hall hearing with its’ stakeholders

The Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NiPDA) has organized a town hall meeting with its’ stakeholders on Tuesday, 9th April 2024, at the Presbyterian Church, Old Ningo. The objective of the meeting is to update the stakeholders on the developmental activities carried out in 2023 as well as those planned for the year 2024. This meeting also provided an opportunity for the public to express their grievances, challenges and expectations to the District Assembly for necessary action.

Profiled dignitaries in attendance, were the District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Al-Latiff Tetteh Amanor, the District Coordinating Director Mr. Bernard Mats Yingura, Assembly members, Unit Committee members, representatives of various artisanal associations in the district, staff, and various departmental heads of the Assembly. Some of the identifiable artisans were Garments Maker’s Association, Hair Dressers Association, driver’s Union, welders, market queens, the Physically challenged amongst others.

Addressing the gathering, the DCE applauded all the stakeholders for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the town hall meeting. He indicated that this meeting was a mandatory annual event dedicated to updating the public on the assembly’s developmental progress and also allowing the public to express their opinions and challenges for the action of the appropriate departments. Hon. Amanor, highlighted the major projects ongoing in the District: such as the construction of the Agenda 111 District Hospital, construction of the Ningo-Prampram Sea Defense, dredging of the Djange Lagoon, and the construction of the Prampram-Kpone Lalue bridge.

In a welcome address delivered by the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Bernard Mats Yingura, he expressed his profound appreciation to all participants for honoring their invitation. He noted that the attendees’ presence demonstrated their level of commitment to moving the Ningo-Prampram District forward by engaging in various aspects of development that are vital to the community and the district at large. He reiterated that the meeting was to review ongoing activities, solicit their inputs and also address public grievances.

The chairperson, Nene Nawotey Aklotia IV, in his address, urged the participants to work together for the progress of the District and to contribute to the success of the meeting.

The various departments took turns to educate and sensitize the participants. Mr. Godsway Kotoku, the Assistant District Planning Analyst, spoke on the medium-term plan. He stated that the plan guides the assembly’s day-to-day operations. The goals of this medium term plan is centered on the “Agenda for Job Phase Two: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All.” He mentioned goals such as improving socio-economic well-being, providing quality healthcare, and achieving clean environmental sanitation.

Some of the achievements highlighted across sectors includes, education, agriculture, roads and drainage development, health, environmental sanitation, and governance. Key Notable achievements mentioned included the rehabilitation of Afienya Technical Institute, construction of the Sea Defenses, and ongoing Agenda 111 hospital construction.

On budgeting, Miss Genevive Darko explained the various revenue sources available to the District Assembly. These sources are the Government of Ghana (GOG) common fund, Internally Generated Funds (IGF), and Donors. The IGF are rates and fees paid by the citizenry to the Assembly. If the community members are responsible in this regard, the Assembly would be more efficient in the provision of basic social amenities. These funds are used for the Assembly’s daily operations and the entire development of the District.

The Donor revenue comes from aids from non-governmental agencies. This, most often than not, is marginal and irregular. She entreated rate payers to pay regularly for more developmental projects in the District.

The District Physical Planning Officer, Mr. Aaron Aboagye, presented on the steps involved in building permit acquisition. The process includes submitting applications to the Spatial Planning Committee secretariat, documents would be vetted, collating technical findings, joint site inspections, technical consideration by a sub-committee, processing by Spatial Planning Committee, and Issuance of the building permit within 30 working days.

He assured participants that the process does not go beyond the thirty (30) days. He encouraged all participants to educate their neighbours as well as community members to avoid flooding and haphazard springing up of unauthorized structures.

Madam Velvet Akweley Ashitey from the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) office also addressed the participants. She emphasized on the critical issue of child trafficking. She urged everyone present to recognize that regardless of their financial struggles, no parent or guardian should give their child out to be trafficked.

Madam Angelina Selassie Agbedanu, from the Social Welfare and Community Development office, engaged attendees on combating teenage drug abuse. Participants suggested various measures to curb this menace; including a clamp down on drug abusers, destroying drug dens and involvement of the military and other security officers to root out the drug abuse challenge effectively.

The participants made known to the organizers their challenges and expectations. Outstanding was the submission of the representative of the Persons with Disabilities.

She indicated that they are encouraged to enroll in formal education for a brighter future. However, she has graduated as a professional trained teacher without work for several years now. She appealed to the Assembly to assist them become economically viable and provide for their dependents.

ISD