AGONA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY

2015 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (APR)

COMPILED BY:

MUNICIPAL PLANNING COORDINATING UNIT (MPCU)

FEBRUARY, 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

District Profile 2 - 13

M & E Activities Report

Update on Core Municipal Indications & Targets 14 - 17

Update on Disbursements from Funding Sources 17 - 19

Update on Critical Development and Poverty Issues 19 - 24

Programme/Projects status for the Year 2015 25

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1. DISTRICT PROFILE

1.1 Establishment

Agona West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) was created out of the former Agona District

Assembly (ADA) on 25th February, 2008 by LI 1920. AWMA is one of the twenty (20) political

and administrative districts in the Central Region of Ghana. AWMA has 1 Urban Council –

Nyarkrom Urban Council (LI 1967) and 5 Zonal Councils.

1.2 Vision and Mission Statement

1.2.1 Vision

To become a well-developed Municipal Assembly that provides and facilitates excellent services

to its people to ensure improvement in the quality of life of its people.

1.2.2 Mission Statement

The Agona West Municipal Assembly exists to facilitate the improvement in the quality of life

of the people in close collaboration with the private sector and other development partners in the

Municipality through the mobilization and the judicious use of resources and provision of Basic

Socio-Economic Development within the context of Good Governance.

1.3 Physical Characteristics

1.3.1 Location and Size

Agona West is situated in the eastern corner of the Central Region within latitudes 5030’ and

5050’N and between longitudes 0035’ and 0055’W.cIt has a total land area of 447 square

kilometers. The Municipality is divided into six (6) sub-districts or Town/Area Councils. The

Municipality is bordered to the North by Agona East, to the South by Gomoa East and to the

Northwest and West by Asikuma, Odoben, Brakwa and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Districts (Map

2). The Municipal capital, Swedru, is at a nodal point of roads radiating to the rich cocoa

growing areas of the Central Region. Swedru is approximately twenty-four kilometers North of

Winneba.

Map 1: Municipality in National Context Map 2: Agona West in Regional Context

Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017) Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017)

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1.3.2 Relief and Drainage

Agona West has a diversified relief with altitudes varying between 75-150 meters above sea

level with the highest point being 350 meters. Agona West has undulating and sloppy

topography from north to south with isolated hillocks in the north- east, most of which are made

up of granite rocks. The main river which primarily drains through the Municipality is Akora

River. There are other small rivers like Abena, and Enchiwi, which could be useful for purposes

of irrigation.

1.3.3 Soil and Land Use

The major soil type found in the Municipality is classified as Forest ochrosols. These soils are

alkaline and richly supplied with nutrients which make them suitable for cultivating varied

agricultural produce like cocoa, citrus and coconut. Typical forest food crops like plantain,

banana, cassava, cocoyam and maize. Vegetable and sugar cane cultivation is widespread.

Agriculture occupies most of the land use; however, certain areas are devoted to forestry and

community settlements.

1.3.4 Climate and Vegetation

Generally, the Municipality lies in the wet semi-equatorial climate zone. It has two main crop

growing seasons: a bio-modal pattern of rainfall with the maxima occurring in May/June and

September/October. The annual rainfall figure lies within the range of 1000mm – 1400mm. The

dry season starts in December and ends in March with the highest mean monthly temperature of

33.80 occurring between March/April and the lowest of about 29.40 C in August.

The area falls within the moist tropical and semi-deciduous forest with a lot of valuable timber

trees like mahogany, sapele, silk cotton, wawa and odum. Due to over logging, most of the

timber trees are no more. The most predominant and giant tree left is the silk cotton. The recent

award of concessions for the harvesting of this tree poses the greatest ecological danger to the

environment. Afforestation, particularly the cultivation of teak and other forest trees would

become very important economic ventures in future.

1.4 Demographic characteristics

1.4.1 Population

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the Agona West Municipality has an

estimated total population of 115,358 with female slightly dominating at an estimated population

of 61, 199 while male population was estimated at 54,159. The population of the major

settlements in the Municipality is shown in Figure 1.

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Table 1: Population of Major Settlements in the Municipality

S/N SETTLEMENT POPULATION

1. Swedru 55,239

2. Nyakrom 18,666

3. Bobikuma 7,980

4. Abodom 6,576

5. Kwaman 3,846

6. Nkum 3,073

7. Wawase 1,588

8. Otsenkorang 1,076

9. Adukori 891

10. Oteprow 878

11. Ahomadonko 745

12. Odomu 736

13. Dadzie 735

14. Nkwantanando 729

15. Kukurantumi 599

16. Bosompa 600

17. Jukwafum 510

18. Amponsahkrom 506

19. Nkranfo 485

20. Nsonan 467

Source: 2010 Population and Housing Census

1.4.2 Population Size and Growth Rates

The population growth rate was 2.656% in 1984. About 40% of the populace were children. In

1960, the population of the area forming the current Agona District was 82,607 and growing at

an annual rate of 0.6% it reached 87,446 in 1970 and by 1984 the total population was 122,631

showing an annual growth rate of 2.66% between 1970 and 1984(source: 1996-2000 Medium

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Term Development Plan page 14). With the current (2010) population estimated at 115358. The

annual growth rate between 2000 and 2010 is 2.8 per annum

The Agona Municipality growth rate of 2.8% is higher than both the national and regional

growth rates of 2.5% and 3.1% respectively. The above picture shows that the Municipality is

experiencing a continual rise in the growth rate as it has shown a rise from 0.6% in 1960 to the

present rate of 2.8%. The rapid increase is more importantly the result of both high birth rate and

a considerably reduction in mortality as well as high in-migration rate. Though these are

encouraging, the increasing population in the Municipality will place a growing strain on the

municipality’s resources and create serious problems for the Municipal Assembly in particular

and the central government in general.

1.4.3 Age-Sex Structure of Population

The age and sex structure of the Municipal population shows that the population is

predominantly female (53.1%), with males forming about 46.9%.

1.5 Economic and Occupational Characteristics

The resource base of the Municipality is determined by the natural resources of the area. This has

made the Municipality economy predominantly agricultural oriented. The climate, soil and

labour base of the Municipality is agricultural biased. As a result of this, all the products of the

Municipality are mainly agriculture outputs. Cash crop production dominates all farming

activities of the Municipality e.g. cocoa, citrus, oil palm and coconut. There are a few deposits of

clay and gold but not to support commercial production and exploitation. Agriculture is the

major economic activity in Agona West and engages more than 64% of the Municipal

population.

1.6 Health Status

Some of the health hazards are principally malaria and gastro intestinal diseases. HIV/AIDS is

slowly rearing its head in the Municipality. Programmes would actively be undertaken to control

this current health hazard. The approach would be similar to the national policy to reduce the

pandemic. The top ten (10) diseases and their number of reported cases are as indicated in Table

2.

Table 2: Top 10 Diseases in the Municipality

S/N DISEASE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES

1. Malaria 11,544

2. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections 11,963

3. Anaemia 4,989

4. Diarrhoea Diseases 2,963

5. Acute Eye Infection 3,175

6. Skin Diseases 1,926

7. Acute Urinary Tract Infection 1,798

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8. Hypertension 1,829

9. Rheumatism and Other Join Pains 1,703

10. Intestinal Worm 1,696

Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2015

Table 3: Health Indicators

Source: Municipal Health Directorate, 2015

1.7 Education

There has been an increase in enrolment in Basic Schools in the Municipality. The general

increase in enrolment in response to Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education has been

tremendous. Reasons for the increase in enrolment of school going age pupils could be based on

the following interventions.

Improvement in infrastructure like public buildings and furniture through Social

Investment Fund (SIF), Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and European Union

(EU).

Improvement in water and sanitation facilities in public schools through Community

Water Sanitation Agency (CWSA)

The introduction of the capitation grant

The challenges of education in the Municipality are:

Reforms Management and

School Information Improvement;

Teacher development, deployment and supervision;

Special partnership programmes with non-state actors.

INDICATORS 2012 2013 2014 2015

OPD Attendance 79,966 89,825 108,434 154,212

Under 5 Death 60 46 41 48

Total Death 414 350 315 326

Total Admissions 12,503 11,785 12,622 11,869

Insured Patient 57,929 63,949 88,277 133,374

Non-Insured 22,637 25,876 20,157 20,838

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1.8 Environmental Situation

Poor waste disposal situation in the Agona West Municipality has been caused by inefficient

and inadequate infrastructure facilities, especially insufficient drainage and toilet facilities. In

some of the communities, refuse disposal points have become terminals for open defecation. The

pile of refuse grows into unsightly mountains because the Municipal Assembly is unable to cope

with the problem.

The illegal activities of chain-saw operators, charcoal and firewood merchants have resulted in

deforestation since the fuel wood related activities are not based on sustainable exploitation of

forest resources and thus posing a threat to ecological stability and sustainable environmental

development. Traditional farm management practices, to wit, slash-and-burn; reduced fallow

periods; reduced crop rotation cycles and the absence of agro-forestry practices among others

have resulted in erosion on farmlands.

One major environmental problem especially in the villages is inter-house soil erosion. The

foundations under several houses are exposed thus posing danger to life and property since many

of these buildings are constructed with laterite. Due to misuse and mismanagement of water

bodies, for example dumping of refuse and soapy water into them largely due to ignorance and

conservatism there is water pollution in some of the settlements. Air pollution in some

settlements is caused by poor sanitary conditions arising from piles of rotting refuse.

1.9 Agona West Poverty Profile

Poverty is defined as a situation where an individual or a household is not able to command

sufficient resources to satisfy the basic needs of life such as food, shelter, clothing, health,

education etc.

The poor in Agona West are mainly Subsistence farmers with land holdings of between one-

quarter of an acre and two acres; The Destitute; The unemployed and the under-employed; The

vulnerable: women, children, the aged, the illiterate and the disabled who are vulnerable to risk

and other social upheavals like chieftaincy conflicts and domestic violence, as well as inability to

easily access the few good jobs.

1.10 Causes of Poverty in Agona West Municipality

1.10.1 High rate of unemployment

In 2012, under the youth employment programme, 350 youth were registered and out of the

figure, 200 (57%) have been offered jobs.

1.10.2 Inaccessible Credit Facilities

The people do not have access to available credit because of (i) inadequate information on such

credits (ii) high lending rates (iii) non-existence of well-established associations, cooperatives or

groups to serve as sources of loans and credit (iv) problems of accessibility to the hinterland:

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1.10.3 Mismanagement of the Available Resources

There are scenes of physical environmental degradation in the form of deforestation through

poor farming practices, bushfires and sand winning in the Municipality.

1.10.4 Lack of Storage Facilities

Post-harvest losses are great in the Municipality, compelling farmers to offer their produce at

relatively low prices. The dominant methods for storage are traditional barns and smoking.

1.10.5 No Irrigation System

There are no irrigation systems in the Municipality that will enable farming to be perennial.

There are only three small group farmers engaged in some form of irrigation using dugouts for

vegetable farming.

1.10.6 Ignorance and Strong Adherence to Negative Traditional and Religious Beliefs and

Practices

These include widowhood rites in the Municipality that keep women out of productive activities

for a period of six weeks. In places like Babianeha, palm branches are not allowed in the

Community. There are too many taboo days in the Municipality that prevents people from going

to work. However, such days are used to attend hospitals, durbars, to meet public officers for

information, communal labour etc.

1.10.7 Collapse of the Cash Crop Industry

The cocoa industry has virtually collapsed. The Municipality used to be the leading producer of

cocoa in the Central Region, as a result of which the Swedru Secondary School and the regional

office of COCOBOD were built.

1.11 Coping Strategies

The poor in Agona Municipality have nevertheless coped with the harsh conditions. Some of the

strategies adopted by the poor to cope with the situation include:

Resorting to child labor to support the family budget;

Illegal exploitation of natural resources: This takes the form of lumbering, sand winning

and farming within forest reserves. For instance the Municipality has almost depleted the

exploitation of its timber species. The only economic tree species of any importance

available for exploitation are ceiba pentendra (Onyina). Most of the timber species were

depleted due mainly to over exploitation by illegal means.

Resorting to high interest rate loans: due to non-availability of credit, people are forced to

resort to money lenders who at times charge 100% interest rate.

Incidence of arm robbery, theft, sakawa (Internet fraud) and Domestic violence cases are

reported in the Municipality.

Prostitution: This is very rampant in an area called 50-50 in Dwenewoho at Swedru.

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To offset the harsh conditions of poverty in the Municipality, the Agona West Municipal

Assembly in collaboration with some Non-Governmental Organizations has taken positive

initiatives to improve the standard and quality of living standard among the populace.

1.12 Economic Potentials

The Agona West Municipal Assembly has a lot of economic potentials in the form of both

natural and man-made as displayed in Table 3. The most spectacular is the presence of markets

in most major towns to promote trade and commerce. The Municipality produces large quantities

of cassava, maize, plantain, cocoyam and vegetables. Cocoa, palm oil and coffee are also

produced.

Granite for the production of quarry stone for all types of construction abound. Wining of sand

occurs in several parts of the Municipality, particularly, Swedru. Palm kernel oil is processed

into local soap in several of the large communities. Distillation of local gin is predominant in the

Abodom and Kukurantumi areas. Swedru is home to a number of hotels of international status

where workshops and conferences are held. There are important second cycle educational

institutions. The Municipality is well served by major trunk roads and health facilities.

Table 4: Economic Potentials in Agona West Municipality

RESOURCE SPECIFICS LOCATION

NATURAL RESOURCES

FORESTS Timber Products All Town/Area Council Areas

Fuel wood All Town/Area Council Areas

MINERALS Gold All Town/Area Council Areas

Clay All Town/Area Council Areas

Granite Kwaman

AGRICULTURE

FOOD CROPS Cassava, maize All over the Municipality

Vegetables Abodom, Bobikuma

plantain, Nkum, Ahamadonko, Nsuansa

cocoyam,

Nkum, Ahamadonko, Nsuansa,

Otsenkorang

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beans Otsenkorang

CASH CROPS Coffee Adukrom, Abodom

Oil Palm All over the Municipality

Citrus Kwaman, Nyakrom

Coconut All major towns

INDUSTRIES

FOOD PROCESSING Corn milling All major towns

Sugarcane crushing All major towns

Gari Processing All major towns

Palm Oil extraction All major towns

LIGHT&HEAVY

INDUSTRIES

Soap making All major towns

Distillery All major towns

Hotels Swedru

Historical Places All major towns

Religious Places Kwaman

Shrines All major towns

INFRASTRUCTURE

HEALTH Hospital Swedru

Private hospital Swedru

Health centre All major towns

Private Clinics Swedru

EDUCATION Day nurseries All major towns

Basic schools All major towns

Junior High schools All major towns

Swedru School of Business Swedru

Nyakrom Senior High/Tech Nyakrom

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Trunk road All major towns

Ordinary road All major towns

Feeder roads All small communities

TRANSPORTATION Running fleet of taxis cars

buses, cargo vehicles etc.

All major towns

Source: AWMA Records, 2015

1.13 Climate Change

1.13.1 Objectives

To assist the 6 sub Municipal areas to implement and sustain climate change

issues (adaptation and mitigation) in the local planning processes.

To facilitate and sustain the integration of climate change and disaster risk

reduction into municipal development planning processes.

To create and deepen awareness about the critical role of climate change and

disasters in the Municipality development efforts

Municipal Development Goals could be hampered by ignoring Climate and disaster risk

reduction issues and Much less attention has been paid to making development more resilient to

climate change, its related disasters and impacts.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate

change as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that

alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate

variability observed over comparable time periods.

1.13.2 Some Critical Areas for Consideration

• Energy

• agriculture and food security issues

• disaster management,

• water management,

• education

• health,

• livelihoods,

• coastal zone management,

• land use planning and

• infrastructure designing

• Tourism

• mitigation and adaptation

• Extreme Weather events

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• Droughts

• Floods

• Storms

• Vulnerabilities and Risks

1.14 Art and Culture

1.14.1 Social and Ethnic Structure of the Municipality

The indigenous people of the Municipality are the ‘Agonas’. Over the years they have co-existed

with other prominent minority migrants such as Obutus, Gomoas, Ewes, Effutus, Fantis,

Kwahus, Atakpames, Kontokoris and several ethnic groupings of Northern Ghana origin.There is

no existing documentation on the ethnic structure of the Municipality but local estimates of the

migrant population is about 10% to 30% (4-Year Integrated MTDP (2010-2013).

Apart from Swedru (the Municipal capital) to which people are attracted due to the existence of

public and private sector business activities, Otsenkorang Area Council also has a high migrant

population due to the cocoa industry. Here, migrants outnumber the indigenes by a ratio of 4:1

(source: 1996-2000 MTDP). Kwahus and Gomoas dominate in cocoa farming. Despites the high

number of different ethnic groups, the Municipality has a strong social integration from the

diverse ethnic groups. The groups intermarry and participate in shared cropping arrangements

under the existing land tenure systems, especially the ‘Abunu’ and ‘Abusa’ which are commonly

practiced. This has promoted solid social bonds and economic ties between migrant tenants and

their indigenous landlords. It also makes it easier for tenants to acquire land for farming.

1.14.2 Festivals and Funerals

Festivals are important in the social life of the people in Agona West Municipality. The

“Akwambo” festival is the most important traditional festival instituted for the spiritual reunion

of the people. It is celebrated every year between August and October. As a social festivity, it is

also an occasion where communities plan their developmental activities including strategies for

mobilizing funds for project implementation.

Funeral rites that provide solemn occasions for sober reflection have also become occasions that

bring people together. It is one single most important event that brings the youth home to mourn

with their people. It also enable the youth visit their old parents. Business in mourning cloth is

quite brisk, particularly, Swedru.

1.14.3 Marriage and Inheritance

The people of Agona practice the matrilineal inheritance system. Female children in the extended

family under this system are considered important for the survival of the family as a unit.

Inheritance is therefore passed on from brothers to their sisters’ children (nephews and nieces).

Female share of labour and contributions to the family income from agriculture is quite

substantial.

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Polygamy is a common social characteristic in the Municipality, particularly in less urban and

farming communities. Some of the reasons for polygamy mentioned include:

1. The wide disparity of the male-female ratio reaching as high as 1:3 in some

localities

2. Inadequate opportunities for women compelling them to seek early marriage as

teenagers

3. The tendency of some men to use female labour on their farms

1.14.4 Religion

The inhabitants of Agona West are highly religious. The dominant religion is Christianity. Other

religions such as Islam and Traditional worship also exist in the minority. Religious groups

found in the Municipality co-exist peacefully. The larger Christian population in all Urban,

Town and Area Councils makes the church a possible forum for information dissemination on

community/group mobilization for development in the Municipality.

All other religious groups observe the taboos in the Municipality. These taboos, which are

considered to have socio-economic and spiritual importance, include regulation of farming days,

land use, water resources use and control and adhesion to some social norms. There are non-

farming taboo days in every Urban, Town and Area Council as depicted in Table 6.

Table 5: Taboo Days in Agona West Municipality

Urban/Town/Area

Council

Taboo D a y s

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Swedru

Nyakrom

Otsenkorang

Bobikuma

Nkum

Abodom

Source: 4-Year Integrated MTDP (2014-2017)

Taboos in Agona West also help in the protection of the forests and the fragile ecosystem

through the creation of sacred grooves, which are known popularly as “Nananom Mpow” in the

Municipality. Taboo days also assist in fixing community dialogue meetings.

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2. UPDATE ON CORE MUNICIPAL INDICATORS AND TARGETS

NO

.

ACCELERATED

AGRICULTURE

MODERNIZATION & AGRO-

BASED INDUSTRIAL

DEVELOPMENT

2015

Indicator

Level

2015

Target

1. Per capital production Maize

of key staple Cassava

Foods Plantain

(Crops, Livestock Cocoyam

and fish) in Yam

Kg/annum Rice

of animal/annum

ANIMAL

Sheep

Goat

Cattle

24,870.25mt

76,619.24mt

12,882.45mt

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

6,259

7,324

314

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

2. Proportion/length of roads

maintained/Rehabilitated

- Truck Roads (in km)

- Urban Roads (in

km)Highway

- Feeder Roads (in

km)Authority

Not Available

3. Hectares of degraded forest/ mining

/dry and wet lands

rehabilitated/restored

a. Forest

b. Mining

c. Dry and wetland

Not Available

4. Teledensity/Penetration rate:

15

DEVELOPING THE HUMAN

RESOURCES FOR

DEVELOPMENT

2015

Indicator

Level

2015

Target

5. HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (% of

adult population. 15-19 yrs. HIV

Positive)

0.0% 0.0

6. Maternal Mortality ratio (Number

of deaths due to pregnancy and

childbirth per 100,000 live births)

17 per 100,000 live

births (0.0005)

0.0

7. Under-five mortality rate (Number

of Deaths occurring between birth

and exact age five per 1000 live

births)

(48/26877) x 1000

0.0

8. Malaria case fatality in children

under five years per 10,000

population

(5/5375) x 10,000 0.0

9. Percentage of population with

sustainable access to safe water

sources

80.53% 73

10. Gross Enrolment Rate (Indicates

the number of pupils/students at a

given level of schooling-regardless

of age as proportion of the number

of children in the relevant age

group)

- Primary

- JHS

- SHS

Net Admission Rate in

Primary Schools (indicates

Primary One enrolment of

pupils aged 6 years)

114.5%

91.0%

-

35.0%

122.7%

93.4%

-

70.7%

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11. Gender Parity Index (Ratio

between girls and boys enrolment

rates, the balance of parity is 1.00

- KG

- Primary

- JHS

- SHS

-

0.99 0.96

1.12 1.0

- - 0.83

1.00

0.97

12.

13

Proportion of unemployed youth

benefiting from

skills/apprenticeship and

entrepreneurial training

Proportion of Youth Registered

Proportion of Youth Employed

Not Available

Not Available

14. Number of reported cases of abuse

(children, women and men)

- Children

- Women

- Men

5

3

-

15

10

15. Training programme for Assembly

Staff

17 29

TRANSPARENT AND

ACCOUNTABLE

GOVERNANCE

2015

Indicator

Level

2015

Target

16. Total amount of internally

generated revenue

GH¢ 1,325,866.69

17. Amount of Development Partner

and

NGO funds contribution to

DMTDP

GH¢1,028,134.76

17

Implementation

18. % of DA expenditure within the

DMTDP budget (How much of

DA’s expenditure not in the

annual budget?)

REDUCING POVERTY AND

INCOME INEQUALITIES

2015

Indicator

Level

2015

Target

19. % increase in tourist arrivals N/A

SUSTAINABLE

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

GOVERNMENT AND

PRIVATE SECTOR

EXPANDED DEVELOPMENT

OF PRODUCTION

INFRASTRUCTURE

20.

% of population with access to

improved sanitation (flush toilets,

KVIP, household latrine)

42.1%

21. % of households covered by

Electricity supply

67.02% 100%

3. UPDATE ON DISBURSEMENT FROM FUNDING SOURCES (GH¢)

2012 2013 2014 2015 TOTAL

DACF 1,564,499.94 716,807.23 754,103.03 1,566,514.16 4,601,924.36

IGF 685,592.51 951,305.41 1,275,681.57 1,325,866.69 2,912,579.49

HIPC Funds 500,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 - 550,000.00

SPECIAL

FUND

- - - 807,055.30

807,055.30

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GoG Grants

Donor

Grant

Total

Amount

60,084.78

163,045.45

-

2,973,222.68

1,268,935.28

1,186,320.61

347,473.61

4,495,842.14

121,247.50

1,296,784.29

-

3,472,816.39

-

1,028.134.76

4,727,570.91

1,450,267.56

4,021,758.72

14,343,585.43

3.1 Adequacy of Funds

District Assembly Common Fund (DACF)

The amount of DACF released to the Municipality for the year under review fall short of what

was budgeted for in view of the series of deductions made by the Common Fund Administrator

in addition to the late release of the Funds.

3.1.2 Internally Generated Fund (IGF)

The IGF generated by the Assembly was not up to its target for the year under consideration,

measures have been put in place to increase the Internally Generated Fund of the Assembly as

outlined in item 3.2.

3.1.3 HIPC Funds

No funds was released for the reporting year which is woefully bad.

3.1.4 Government of Ghana Grant

The Government of Ghana’s Grant in support of its development activities which has played a

major role in the development of the Municipality was not released.

3.1.5 Donor Grants

Donor grant’s contribution towards the development of the Municipality amounted to GH¢

4,021,758.72.

The inadequacy of the funds calls for more funds to facilitate the developmental agenda of the

Municipality.

3.2 Effort to Generate Funds

Street Naming and Property Addressing System

Preparation of Revenue Improvement Action Plan

Construction of Revenue Booth at Swedru

Formation of task force to collect revenue on both temporarily and permanent structures

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Establishment of Management Information System office to provide accurate data base

for all ratable properties within the Municipality

Organization of public education on tax responsibility

Setting of target for revenue collectors

Training of revenue collectors and city guards on strategies for enhancing revenue

mobilization

Provision of revenue charts

Weekend’s collection

Turning the weekly Mandela Market at Swedru into a daily market

3.3 Other Challenges with Regards to Generating Funds

Uncooperative attitude of tax payers

Untimely release of DACF

Under invoicing by some revenue collectors

4. UPDATE ON CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ISSUES

Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP)

4.1 Introduction

The Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) Programme is a social cash transfer

programme which provides cash and health insurance to extremely poor households across

Ghana to alleviate short-term poverty and encourage long term human capital development.

LEAP started a trial phase in March 2008 and then began expanding gradually in 2009 and 2010.

As of July 2013, the programme had reached over 70,000 households across Ghana with an

annual expenditure of approximately USD20m. The program is funded from general revenues of

the Government of Ghana (50 percent), donations from DFID and a loan from the World Bank. It

is the flagship programme of Ghana's National Social Protection Strategy and is implemented by

the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social

Protection (MoGCSP).

There are 573 beneficiaries from 22 communities in the Municipality. Males benefiting from the

programme in the Municipality are 116 with 457 Females.

NUMBER OF DEVELOPING HUMAN RESOURCE 2015 2015

FOR DEVELOPMENT Indicator Level Target

Number of reported cases of abuse Children 5 15

(Children, women and men) Women 3 10

Men -

20

4.2. Beneficiaries of LEAP in the municipality by Community

Beneficiary

Communities

Males

Females

Total

Odom 4 14 18

Edukrom 14 18 32

Kwaman 6 35 41

Lower/Upper Bobikuma 21 82 103

Abodom 14 40 54

Abigyakrom 5 15 20

Kukurantumi - 4 4

Otabilkrom 5 26 31

Mantsemankebi 3 6 9

Nkranfo 2 21 23

Mangoase 1 2 3

Wawase 2 25 27

Bebianiha 12 28 40

Dwenho 7 30 37

Nkubem - 1 1

Nyakrom - 1 1

Old Zongo - 26 26

Yaabem 10 60 70

Domeky 10 13 23

Agya Abusua - 7 7

Egyabreso - 2 2

Anchiase - 1 1

Total 116 457 573

Source: Department of Social Welfare, AWMA, 2015.

21

5. SCHOOL CAPITATION GRANTS

5.1.1 Introduction

The educational situation in Ghana has improved over the years. Quantity and quality of

Schooling has improved. In spite of this, the country had not achieved total coverage of all

school going age children. In a bid to fulfill its commitment to achieving the goal of the Free

Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and its commitment to the United Nations goal

of universal primary education by 2015 and the Millennium Development Goals on education,

the government of Ghana introduced the capitation grant during the 2004/2005 academic year.

The capitation grant covers the extra cost and levies (such as examination, facilities

management, security charges, games and sports) that parents usually pay as ‘school fees’ in

public schools.

5.1.2 Release of the Grant

A total amount of GH¢ 36,055.00 was released in 2014/2015 academic year which is the 3rd

tranche for the 2013/2014.

5.1.3 Monitoring the Usage

The Internal Audit Unit of the Ghana Education Service in the Municipality monitors the usage

of the grant. Various forms are used in the release and usage of the grant among which are:

1. Request Form

2. Advance Form

3. Accounting for Advance Form

4. Honour Certificate

5. Monthly Expenditure Returns

5.1.4 Main Challenges

Delay in the release of funds

Inequality in the distribution of the grant

Chunk of the grant going into games and culture

Inadequacy of the amount per pupil

5.2 GHANA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

5.2.1 Introduction

The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) commenced in 2005 with the objective of

reducing hunger and malnutrition; increasing school enrollment, retention and attendance and to

boost local food production. The GSFP is an initiative under the comprehensive Africa

22

Agricultural Development Pillar 3 seeks to enhance food security and reduce hunger in line with

the UN-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

5.2.2 Release of the Grant

In the 2014/2015 academic year, a total amount of GH¢233,923.00 was disbursed. In all, 4,904

pupils (2,364 males and 2,540 females) were fed in the 2014/2015 academic year.

5.2.3 Number of People’s Fed for 2015

S/N Schools Number of beneficiaries

Male Female Total

1. Nyamendam AMA KG Prim School 73 85 158

2. Ahamadonko AMA Basic Primary 150 166 316

3. Abodom Anglican Basic School 206 198 404

4. Bobikuma Catholic Basic School 145 171 316

5. Mansokwaa Kioharts AMA Primary 125 110 235

6. Nkum Presby KG Primary 132 158 290

7. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”A” Primary 84 88 172

8. Bobikuma Anglican 168 169 337

9. Kukurantumi AMA KG Primary 163 136 299

10. Nyakrom Holy Quran ”B” Primary 80 89 169

11. Odomu AME Basic School 84 96 180

12. Kesewa/Ekwaboman AMA KG & Prim 125 121 246

13. Nkranfo AMA Basic School 122 130 252

14. Nkum AMA Basic School 231 300 531

15. Kwaman Methodist Prim/KG 181 201 382

16. Nyakrom Presby School 143 182 325

17. Abigyakrom AMA Basic 152 140 292

Total 2,364 2,540 4,904

Source: Ghana Education Service, AWMA 2015

5.2.4 Monitoring the Usage

a. Two (2) unannounced visits to beneficiary schools per term

b. School Implementation Committee (SIC) under the Programme has been rekindled in

beneficiary schools.

5.2.5 Main Challenges

Delay in the release of feeding grant from the National Headquarters

Inadequate per capita per pupil

Lack of kitchens in some beneficiary schools

Situations where pupils from non-beneficiary schools have enrolled in beneficiary

schools, thereby bringing pressure to bear on the facilities in the receiving schools

23

5.2.6 Distribution of School Furniture

During the period under review the following furniture were distributed to various schools in the

Municipality.

TYPE OF FURNITURE TOTAL

Mono Desk 1713 pcs

Dual Desk 1000 set pcs

Kindergarten desk Nil

Senior High School desk Nil

Office Table and Chair 350 pcs

Total 3063

Source: AWMA, 2015.

In spite of the furniture that were supplied, the Government in his quest to ensure quality

education, there were also supply of the following items from the Central Government during the

period under review to motivate pupils, teachers and administrators.

Item Quantity

Teachers Laptop 30pcs

Teachers Notebooks 975pcs

Class Attendance Register 1192pcs

White Chalk 5625 boxes

My 1st Day at School (small bags) 250pcs

White Chalk (Municipal Assembly) 50 boxes

School Uniforms 699pcs

Litter Bin (Municipal Assembly) 20pcs

Teaching Syllabus 465pcs

P. 2 Language Exercise Books 4723pcs

Tables and Chairs (Municipal Assembly) 7 set pcs

Source: AWMA, 2015.

5.3 MUTUAL HEATH INSURANCE SCHEME

5.3.1 Introduction

The introduction of Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) in Ghana was very much

influenced by the introduction of user fees in 1984 which resulted in difficulties in affording the

cost of health care and loss of revenue for many hospitals. The Challenges within the health

sector prompted some health care facilities, mainly mission hospitals, to introduce insurance

schemes managed jointly with communities. The Government of Ghana in an effort to offset the

challenges commissioned various studies into alternative health financing, principally insurance

based.

24

National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) bill passed into law in 2003, provided the basis for

the establishment of MHIS at the district level in Ghana to improve access to and quality of basic

health care services in Ghana through the establishment of mandatory district-level MHIS.

5.3.2 Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme’s Annual Performance for 2015

MEMBERSHIP

CATEGORY MEMBERSHIP

Estimated Total Active Membership 62,010

Male 23,820

Female 38,190

Informal Sector 20,016

SSNIT Contributors 4,522

SSNIT Pensioners 1,728

Indigents 573

Under 18 Years 28,153

70 Years/Above 2,473

Pregnant Women 4,545

New Membership Registration 30,015

Membership Renewal 30,457

Number of Health Providers 21

Total Attendance (January – August, 2015) 152,195

Out-Patient (January – August, 2015) 142,412

In-Patient (January – August, 2015) 10,783

Claims Paid (January – May, 2015) GH¢ 2,500,474.97

Source: Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, 2015.

5.3.3 Main Challenges

Inadequate staff to manage the office

Frequent downtime of the BMS application

6. PROGRAMMES/PROJECTS STATUS FOR THE YEAR 2015

Location Rural/

Urban

Project

type

Project

Category

Contract

Sum

Payment Contractor Quality Fundin

g

Source

Award

Date

Complet. Status

Nyakrom Urban Construct

ion

6-Classroom

Block

139,662.00 38,783.00 Kac-Aes

Ghana

Limited

average GET

Fund

04/04/10 05-10-10 Lintel

level

Nsuansa Rural Construct

ion

6-Classroom

Block

149,955.00 107,898.00 M/S Barima

Twumbarim

a

not

inspect

ed

GET

Fund

22/11/10 22-05-11 Roofing

level

Salem,

Swedru

Urban Construct

ion

Classroom

Block

317,488.00 161,979.00 Kwasac

wood works

average GET

Fund

22/11/10 22-05-11 First floor

level

Nyamend

am

Rural Construct

ion

6-Classroom

Block

199,617.00 48,248.00 Sag-An Co.

Ltd.

average GET

Fund

06/12/11 08-06-12 Gable

level

Abodom Rural Construct

ion

6-Classroom

Block

149,617.00 95,826.00 M/S Amo

Mensah Co.

Ltd.

above

average

GET

Fund

11/04/11 04-04-12 Finishing

level

Abodom Rural Construct

ion

3-Classroom

Block

147,904.00 22,739.00 M/S

Dadkenson

Co. Ltd.

above

average

GET

Fund

29/02/12 29-08-13 Roofing

level

Kwaama

n

Rural Construct

ion

3-Classroom

Block

147,904.00 22,738.88 M/S Dewis

Enterprise

average GET

Fund

29/02/12 29-08-13 Roofing

level

Nyakrom Urban Construct

ion

Classroom

Block

147,904.00 22,739.00 M/S Dewis

Enterprise

average GET

Fund

29/02/12 29-08-13 Gable

level

Ekurufuf

u Rural

Construct

ion 2-Unit

Classroom 112,403.50

M/S Falila

Co.Ltd

average GET

Fund 16/09/15 01-02-16

Setting

out

26

block

Nkum-

Mansah Rural

Construct

ion

2-Unit

Classroom

block 119,893.23

M/S Dolad

Constructio

n Work

average GET

Fund 16/09/15 01-02-16

Not on

site

Kwaama

n Urban

Construct

ion

2-Unit

Classroom

block 122,555.00

M/S Angles

Associate

Ltd.

average GET

Fund 16/09/15 01-02-16

Foundatio

n Ex

Abodom

Cath Urban

Construct

ion

2-Unit

Classroom

block 119,915.25

M/S Ansey

Enterprise average

GET

Fund 16/09/15 01-02-16

Gable

level

Akurama

se Rural

Construct

ion

2-Unit

Classroom

block 119,585.73

M/S Sir

Charles

Doughan

C.Ltd

average GET

Fund

16/09/15

01-02-16

Foundatio

n Ex

Nsuansa Rural

Construct

ion

6-Unit

Classroom

block 299,192.25 M/S Buabay

average GET

Fund 16/09/15

01-02-16

Setting

out

Abigyakr

om

Rural Construct

ion

Teachers

Quarters

57,687.00 23,903.94 M/S Na-

NAF

Enterprise

above

average

DACF 26/04/11 08-11-11 Roofing

level

Bebianeh

a

Urban Construct

ion

Library 73,792.54 31,392.16 M/S Kannan

Constructio

n

above

average

DACF 23/01/12 23-08-13 Roofing

level

Swedru Urban

Rehabilit

aion Police charge

office 54,123.00 42,292.80

M/S Fobiri

Links

&Sons average DACF 22/01/14 24-03-14

Finishing

level

Agona Urban Rehabilit Classroom 23,481.00 10,400.00 M/S Angles

Associate

above DACF 01/14/14 14-03-14 Finishing

27

Nyakrom aion Block Ltd. average level

Swedru Urban

Renovati

on

of Cntral

Administrati

on Block 89,653.27 36,318.60

M/S Effana

Enterprise.

above

average

DACF 28/11/14 30-03-15

Finishing

level

Swedru Urban

Rehabilit

aion Open shed 46,867.10 15,387.80

M/S Fobiri

Links

&Sons average DACF 16/07/15 07-09-15

Complete

d

Afumkw

aa Rural

Construct

ion

2-Unit

Classroom

block 119,340.90 50,154.66

M/S EAK

Enterprise average DACF 16/09/15

01-02-16

Roofing

level

Nyakrom Urban

Construct

ion

4-Unit

Classroom

block 211,076.20 31,661.41

M/S

Katanca

Co.Ltd

Above

average DACF 06/11/15 07-03-16

Footing

(Block

work)

Abigyakr

om Urban

Construct

ion

4-Unit

Classroom

block 194,925.85 46,663.95

M/S Leonie

Ltd

Above

average

DACF 16/09/15

01-02-16

Oversite

concrete

Afumkw

aa Rural

Construct

ion

1No.

Teachers

Quarters 205,758.50 30,863.78

M/S Hidic

Co.Ltd

Above

average

DACF 06/11/15

07-03-16

Oversite

concrete

Manasok

wa Urban

Construct

ion

CHPS

Compound 148,737.75 62,815.57

M/S

Iconstar Ltd

Above

average DACF 16/09/15

01-02-16

Gable

level

Swedru Urban

Construct

ion

1No. 3-

Bedroom

Apartment 180,477.90 27,071.69

M/S

Iconstar Ltd

Above

average

DACF 16/09/15

01-02-16

Gable

level

Odomu Urban

Construct

ion

1No.CHPS

Compound 148,225.25 80,000.00

M/S

Danclass

Ltd average DACF 16/09/15

01-02-15

Roofing

level

28

Catholic

avenue Urban

Construct

ion

of

1No.1.20m

dia pipe

culvert,0.9m

U

drain(235m) 468,437.50

232,308.0

0

M/S Ecilas

Ltd

average

DACF 06/11/15

11-05-16

Drain

50%

Complete

d

Swedru Urban

Rehabilit

aion Open shed 46,867.10 15,387.80

M/S Fobiri

Links

&Sons average DACF 16/07/15 07-09-15

Complete

d

Nkum Urban

Rehabilit

aion

of Clinic

&Satff

Quarters 99,676.00 31,500.00

M/S

Ultimate

Vision Ltd average MPCF

22/01/14 24-03-14

Finishing

level

Nyakrom Urban

Rehabilit

aion

of 4-Unit

Classroom

Block 54,396.76 22,500.00

M/S

Ultimate

Vision Ltd average MPCF

22/01/14 24-03-14

Roofing

level

Bobikum

ah Urban

Construct

ion

1No. Police

Station MPCF

Awaiting

Regional

approval

Bobikum

ah Urban

Construct

ion

1No. Police

Station MPCF

Awaiting

Regional

approval

AWMA Urban

Construct

ion

1No. 6-Unit

Classroom

block

Ministry

of

Educatio

n

Awaiting

Regional

approval

Aglican

Basic

School Urban

Construct

ion

1No. 6-Unit

Classroom

block

Ministry

of

Educatio

Awaiting

Regional

approval

29

n

Nyakrom Urban Construct

ion

Community

Center

437,203.62 271,829.50 M/S JPP

Constructio

n average

DDF 27/05/14 30-06-15 Complete

d

Swedru Urban Construct

ion

5no.0.9m Dia

pipe Culvert

and Res

of2.3

139,694.52 91,686.25 M/S KKA

Company

Ltd

average

UDG 04/25/14 28-11-14 4-Cluvert

Complete

d

Mandela Urban

Gravellin

g

Tarring of

0.4km road

and paving

of 34x38m 303,082.17 45,462.32

M/S

Rinacand

Co.Ltd

average

UDG 06/11/15

11-05-16 On-going

PWD

yard Urban

Construct

ion

of 1-Storey

30-Lockable

Stores 632,566.00

198,741.8

8

M/S Adalk

Co.Ltd

average

UDG 06/11/15

11-05-16

Sub-

Structure

Swedru Urban

Consulta

ncy

Consultancy

and asset

Management

service UDG

Awaiting

Regional

approval