TIM AFRICA AID GHANA HOLDS STAKEHOLDERS MEETING IN THE TANOSOUTH DISTRICT

The Tim Africa Aid Ghana in collaboration with the Centre for Democratic Development, OSIWA and the Tano South District Assembly has embarked sensitization programme in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region to empower citizens to demand accountability from the Government Institutions and Agencies.       

                                  

Cross section of participants and facilitators at the meeting

In a short opening address, the Presiding Member for Tano South District Assembly Hon. John Dadzie thanked management of the Tim Africa Aid Ghana for organizing such programme to educate citizenry to take part in the Assembly’s decision making processes and urged all participants to contribute their quota to make the programme a success.

                

                                                Hon. John Dadzie (PM) welcoming the participants

                

Addressing the gathering, Mr.Ernest Kusi, the Director of Tim Africa Aid Ghana said the theme for the programme was ‘’Building Transparency, Participation and Feedback Around Local Government Budgeting and Planning System’’ and stressed that, the Local Government System became operational in 1980 where rural folks were encouraged to take part in the Local Government Planning and Budgeting System. He said since the Ghana’s 1992 Constitution mandates all citizenry to demand accountability from the management of the various Government Institutions and Agencies, his outfit will continue to sensitize the public on Local Government Planning and Budgeting System to ensure that the needs of the people are provided by the government.   

               

                                                      Mr Ernest Kusi addressing the gathering

The Chief Planning Officer for the Tano South District Assembly, Mr David Owusu Ansah who took the participants through planning concept defined planning as a roadmap leading to development agenda. He said that the Medium Term Planning always has objectives and such objectives are the main vision of the government.

                 

                                                Mr. David Owusu Ansah speaking at the function

Mr Ansah said, planning goes with objectives, execution and implementation and stressed that since planning brings development, there is the need for the Assembly to plan effectively and efficiently to ensure people acquire schools, hospitals, road, electricity etc.

The Budget Officer for Tano South District Assembly, Mr Isaac Owusu Sekyere said that since Planning goes with budgeting, there is the need for the Assembly to budget its development projects to ensure the most priorities ones are executed. He said the Assembly meet the stakeholders to solicit their views before preparing fee fixing and hinted that the Assembly finance its administrative work through the use of Internally Generated Fund.

Present at the meeting were Nana Awuah Boadi, the Bechem Nifahene, Assembly Members, officials from the Assembly and the general public.

MUSLIMS IN TANO SOUTH DISTRICT CELEBRATE EID- UL -ADHA

Muslims in Bechem and its environs have thronged to the Bechem Islamic Primary School Park to say prayers to celebrate Eid-ul Adha.

The muslims and the dignitaries in a prayer sections

Leading the muslims in prayer, the Chief Imam, Alhaji Ibrahim Gariba said, muslims celebrate Eid-UI-Adha to seek forgiveness from Allah and advised muslims youth in the district and the country as a whole to respect an elderly persons and avoid indulging themselves in things that will not bring peace since without peace, a Nation cannot develop.

The Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency Hon. Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere who joined the Muslims to celebrate the day, in a speech wished all the Muslims ‘’Barka de Sallah’’. He also expressed the felicities of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo- Addo the President of the  Republic of Ghana to them and said, it is imperative as the MP for the Area to be part of the celebration to give Allah the glory.

                        

The Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency Hon. Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere addressing the Muslims

Hon. Sekyere called on all to be law – abiding in order for the district to enjoy the relatively peace it has always enjoyed over the years. He said, government want Muslims leadership to impart their skills and knowledge to the younger generation and for that matter, he and MP for the constituency have assisted Derma Chief Imam to go to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage and assured others to extend same gesture to those who may put in effort to attend Hajj next year.  

The Tano South District Chief, Hon Collins Offinam Takyi in a speech welcomed all muslims gathered at the prayer session and wished them ‘’Barika da Sallah’’. He informed the Adult muslims to send their children to school and urged the younger generation also to respect their teachers.

                       

The Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon Collins Offinam Takyi  addressing  the gathering

Hon. Offinam said they have met some executives in the muslims communities to discuss how the zongo development fund will be used and hinted that a Bill is before parliament and if the Bill is passed by parliament some of the funds will be given to people as loan. He said the availability of the fund will also help to improve the living standard of the muslims.

On education Hon. Takyi said, the government has declared free SHS education for students entering Senior High Schools in September, 2017 and called on all to adhere to the government’s directive as soon as the programme is rolled in the district.

The District Chief Executive later made a personal presentation of 100 pieces of mats, 50 Tasbia, and  undisclosed amount to the Chief Imam to say prayer for the President and all and sundry.

               

The Hon. MP and the DCE presenting the items to the Muslims