Hon. Ebenezer Agyare Boapeah moved a motion for acceptance of the previous minutes after all corrections were effected and it was seconded by Hon. Gordon Denkyira. There was no motion in opposition and when the motion was put, it was unanimously approved.

MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

Creation of Satellite Markets.

In connection with the above, a Member wanted to know the action taken by management with regards to the report that was submitted to the House during its previous meeting. In response, the Planning Officer informed the House that Management was waiting for of the next quarter’s DACF release to implement recommendations in the report. Confirming the Planning Officer’s response, the DCD informed the House that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the DACF had been released for only two quarters in the year and therefore pleaded with the Hon. Members to be patient with Management while steps are taken to implement recommendations of the report.

Fire and Ambulance Service at Jacobu

In connection with the above, a Member asked Management when the project would be commissioned. In response, the DCD informed the House that Management was making frantic efforts to get Fire Service Post and Fire Tender/Engine to the district before the structure/building could be commissioned.

Security Situation in the District

An Hon. Member enquired from the Security agencies the strategies they have put in place to reduce crime in Akokoaso and Heman areas/communities. In response to the concern, the Crime Officer of the District Police Command informed the House that the Police were frequently monitoring those areas through patrols and assured the House that the seemingly insecurity situation in the above mentioned communities would soon be curtailed.

State of Jacobu Town Roads Project

An Hon. Member asked Management to brief the House about the state of the Jacobu-Afoako road and the Jacobu Town roads projects. In response, the DCE

Some Hon. Members of the House expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the Jacobu Township roads project’s contractors had not been introduced to the community before the projects began. They therefore asked Management to invite the contractors to meet Nananom and stakeholders of the community and in response, the DCE assured the House that the contractors would be invited and presented to Nananom in due time.

Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD)

An Hon. Member asked to know whether the oil palm seedlings had been distributed. In response, the head of Agric department informed the House that Seventy-five thousand (75,000) oil palm seedlings were allocated to the district by the Mineral’s Commission through the Member of Parliament of the Odotobri Constituency. He emphasised that the seedlings were distributed without his knowledge.

As the discussions on the issue continued, an Hon. Member expressed the view that the previous minutes be amended on the matters relating to the Assembly procuring 40,000 oil palm seedlings for distributions to farmers, saying that it was not the Assembly that provided the seedlings but the MP. The House agreed with the view after some discussions on the matter and therefore decided to amend the minutes accordingly. Therefore, item 6.9 on page 7 was duly amended to read in part as;

“In relation to the above, the Hon. DCE informed the House that the Assembly had received about 40,000 oil palm seedlings from the Mineral’s Commission through the Hon. Member of Parliament for distribution to farmers in the district……”

Aketechieso CHPS Compound

An Hon. Member enquired from Management whether the project had been commissioned and handed over to the District Directorate of Health and in response, the Head of Works informed the House that the project had been completed and would soon be handed over. Contrary to the Head of Works’ information on the project, an Hon. Member noted that he visited the project site that morning and saw that there were still few works to be done on the project and therefore sought to question the completion of the project. However, reacting to the concern, the DCD stated that Management was working to complete those few works quickly to commission the project.

Movement of Motion for Adoption of Previous Minutes

Hon. Samuel Dapaah moved a motion for the adoption of the minutes and it was seconded by Hon. Kingsley Owusu. There was no counter motion and when the motion was put, it was unanimously approved.

DEMARCATION/DOCUMENTATION OF ASSEMBLY’s LANDS

The House lamented on the Management’s inability to properly demarcate/document all parcel of lands of the Assembly. After a lengthy discussion of the issue, the House once again charged management to, as a matter of urgency, initiate action to get all of such land properly documented.

DRAFT 2021 FEE FIXING RESOLUTION

Presentation and Discussion

The District Budget Analyst presented the draft 2021 fee fixing resolution to the House. He mentioned that the draft had been thoroughly discussed by the F&A Sub-Committee and subsequently by the Executive Committee. He further mentioned that the rates attached to most of the items in the previous year’s resolution had been maintained due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general economy.

The House debated the rates and finally accepted the document but directed the District Budget Analyst to include stone crushers in the document.

DRAFT 2021 COMPOSITE BUDGET

Presentation and Discussion

Presenting the draft composite budget to the House, the District Budget Analyst again informed the House that the composite budget had also be thoroughly discussed at the F&A Sub-Committee and the Executive Committee level. He added that it had even gone through regional budget hearing session. So it was being presented to the General Assembly to enable the House as a whole to add its inputs in terms of comments, contributions and/or seek clarifications where necessary so as to own the budget and approve it. The officer informed the House that the format used for the 2021 Composite Budget was from the Ministry of Finance.

DCE’s Remarks

The Hon. DCE used the opportunity to make a few remarks. First of all, he informed the House that all the issues and concerns that Members spoke of at the meeting would be dealt with by Management. He, however, urged Hon. Members to report any unforeseen situation to Management for possible assistance within its powers should the need arise. The Hon. DCE once again pleaded with Hon. Members to ensure that information on all self-help projects is brought to Management so that the monitoring team could be made to inspect/monitor and also assess the projects after which the Assembly would support them to complete the projects should they apply for support from the Assembly. He said that this would help both the Assembly and the communities. He finally expressed his profound gratitude to members, as well as all the departmental/ unit/sectional heads for the immense contribution that has seen the meeting ending successfully.

 PM’s Closing Remarks

The Hon. PM thanked everyone for coming for the meeting and also for making invaluable contributions to enrich the deliberations of the House. He also expressed gratitude to the Heads of Department for being in attendance and also providing the needed information, explanations and clarifications to make the meeting of the House end successfully.