Bekwai Municipal – Ashantibiz

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The Bekwai Municipal is one of the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana, and forms part of the 43 of MMDAs in the Ashanti Region with its administrative capital as Bekwai.

The Municipality is located in the southern part of the region, lies within 6º 00’N – 6º30 ‘N and Longitudes 1º00W and 1º 35W and it covers a total land area of about 633sqkm.

The Municipality shares boundaries with Amansie West District to the west, Bosomtwe District to the north, Adansi South District and Adansi North District to the south and the Asante Akim South District to the east.

In other parts of the Municipality, however, human activities, particularly farming and timber extraction, have reduced the primary forest to secondary forests.

The population of the Municipality according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census stands at 118,024 with 55,615 males 62,409 females.

Introduction

Background

The Bekwai Municipal Assembly is among the 43 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Ashanti Region. The Municipal Assembly is the highest political and administrative body of the Municipal and exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions. The Municipality was established under Legislative Instrument (L.I. 1906, 2007).

Politically and administratively, the municipality covered the entire Bekwai constituency. Some of the major settlements are Bekwai, Kokofu, Essumeja, Anwiankwanta, Dominase, Poano, Ofoase- Kokoben, Bogyawe, Senfi, Huntado, Abodom, Amoaful, Dadease, Kensere, Akyeremade, Dotom, Koniyaw and Kokotro.

Physical and Natural Environment
Bekwai Municipal is located in the southern part of Ashanti Region. It shares boundaries with Bosomtwe District in the north, Adansi –North in the south, Bosome-Freho District to the East and Amansie-Central and Amansie-West to the west. The Municipal Assembly lies within latitude 6 00‟N 6 03 ‟N and Longitudes 100 W and 1 35W. It covers a total land area of about 624sqkm representing 2.64 percent of the total land area of the region (Ashanti).

Municipal Governance

The Bekwai Municipality has 34 electoral areas. The electoral areas include the following Adankraja, Amoaful ,Adjemasu, Anwiankwanta, Essumeja, Dominase, Bogyawe, Sanfo –Aduam, Ankaase, Poano, Ntinanko, Huntado, Ofoase-Kokoben, Senfi, , Kokofu, Akyeremade, Kensere, Pampaso, Dwumakro, Asanso/Feyiase, Amoaful, New/Zongo, Asokwa/Tunsuom, Brofoyedu, Nampansa, Abodom, Dadease, Dotom, Kokotro, Asamang, Asanso-Feyiase, Asokore, Dwoamin, Kwamang, Huntado, Pepedan/Akwabeteso,PramasoNyameduase .

Objectives of the Municipality

To fulfill its mission, the Municipal Assembly has set itself the following objectives:

To facilitate the effective functioning of local government administration in the Municipality
To ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources of the Assembly and Decentralized Department in the Municipality.
To monitor, co-ordinate and harmonize the implementation of development Plans and activities in the Municipality
To facilitate the provision of basic social and economic infrastructure and services in the Municipality.
To facilitate community based and Private Sector Development in the Municipality.

Our Mission

The Bekwai Municipal Assembly is committed to improving the quality of life of the people in the municipality though the provision of essential service and creation of an enabling environment to ensure the total and sustainable development of the city.

The mission of the Assembly is in tandem with the prime functions of District Assemblies as stated in the Local Government Act of 1993, Act 462, section 10, thus the District ‘Shall be responsible for the overall development of the district and shall formulate and execute plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the district.

Vision

Our Vision

To develop Bekwai and its environs into a safe and vibrant city by improving city management through good governance, local economic development, tourism promotion improved sanitation, improved environmental and social services as well as spatial and infrastructure development.

Function: The detailed function of this Assembly is set out in the LI 1614 of 1995. The execution of these laudable functions such as provision of socio-economic services requires efficient and effective mobilization and utilization of material, human and financial resources to improve the lives of the residents of the municipality.

The following objectives derived from strategies designed to fulfil the above-stated mission were pursued during the period.

Ensuring efficient service delivery, staff reorientation, co-ordination of departmental activities as well as client feedback information on the Assembly’s performance;
Enhancing the planning, budgeting and project execution role of the Assembly;
Controlling haphazard land development and provision of basic social physical infrastructure – education and health facilities;
Improving environmental sanitation conditions through sound waste management practices;
Mobilizing revenue and ensuring that expenditure lagged behind revenue;
Promotion of civic participation and transparency in local governance and information sharing through the operationalization of the satellite structures of the Assembly- Sub-Metros Councils, Town Councils and Unit Committees;
The following long-term objectives were also pursed;
1. Developing human resource through increased access to good/quality education;
2. Ensuring a healthy population through efficiency and increase public access to health delivery, and the implementation of public health programme especially, child immunization and HIV/AIDS control;
3. Sustaining agricultural extension service and making financial credit and form/agricultural inputs available to farmers for increased food production; and above all;
4. Provide adequate security to people and property in the metropolitan areas.

Core Values

The Municipal Assembly is committed to providing timely, open and accountable services to our clients, interest groups, companies, individuals and all other stakeholders. It should be noted that, these values emanate from the service delivery standards of the Local Government Service of Ghana. This commitment is hinged on the following core values:

Transparency and Accountability.
Diligence, Discipline and Timeliness.
Creativity and Innovativeness.
Equity and Impartiality.
Integrity.

Functions

The detailed function of this Assembly is set out in the LI 1614 of 1995. The execution of these laudable functions such as provision of socio-economic services requires efficient and effective mobilization and utilization of material, human and financial resources to improve the lives of the residents of the municipality.

The following objectives derived from strategies designed to fulfil the above-stated mission were pursued during the period.

Ensuring efficient service delivery, staff reorientation, co-ordination of departmental activities as well as client feedback information on the Assembly’s performance;
Enhancing the planning, budgeting and project execution role of the Assembly;
Controlling haphazard land development and provision of basic social physical infrastructure – education and health facilities;
Improving environmental sanitation conditions through sound waste management practices;
Mobilizing revenue and ensuring that expenditure lagged behind revenue;
Promotion of civic participation and transparency in local governance and information sharing through the operationalization of the satellite structures of the Assembly- Sub-Metros Councils, Town Councils and Unit Committees;
The following long-term objectives were also pursed;
1. Developing human resource through increased access to good/quality education;
2. Ensuring a healthy population through efficiency and increase public access to health delivery, and the implementation of public health programme especially, child immunization and HIV/AIDS control;
3. Sustaining agricultural extension service and making financial credit and form/agricultural inputs available to farmers for increased food production; and above all;
4. Provide adequate security to people and property in the metropolitan areas.

Departments

Central Administration

The Central Administration Department is the Secretariat of the District Assembly and shall be responsible for the provision of support” services, effective and efficient general administration and organization of the District Assembly

The Department shall manage all sections of the assembly including:

Records
Estate
Transport
Logistics and Procurement
Accounts
Stores
Security and
Human Resources Management

The Department shall also coordinate the

General administrative functions
Development planning and management functions
Budgeting functions
Rating functions
Statistics and information services generally, and
Human Resource Planning and Development of the District Assembly.

Statistics

The objectives of the Statistics Department are to:
 Collect, compile, analyse, publish and disseminate demographic, health and economic data on the district.

 Undertake monthly market readings on selected goods and services from designated market centres in the District and submit returns to the respective Regional Office of the Ghana Statistical Service for the computation of the following:
o Consumer Price Index (CPI)
o Producer Price Index (PPI) and
o Production Index (PI)

 Enhance the use of statistics for evidence-based decision making

 Harmonize the concepts, methods, and classifications used in production of statistics at all levels

 Systematize the collation of administrative data across sectors and geographical units

 Reinforce the coordination of statistics generation, compilation, analysis, storage, archiving and dissemination across MMDAs

 Strengthen the capacity of statistical staff at the district levels

 Engender statistical literacy among stakeholders

 Maximize revenue generation and utilization

Agriculture

MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has the mandate to develop and execute policies, programmes and strategies for the agricultural sector within the context of a coordinated national socio-economic growth and development agenda. It is thus the lead government agency and focal point for the agricultural sector.

Vision

The Vision for Ghana’s Agricultural Sector is a modernized agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty”.

Mission

The Mission of MoFA is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to producers, processors, distributors and consumers for improved food security, nutrition and incomes.

Functions

The functions of MoFA are:

Agricultural policy formulation
Sector planning and advise to Government on planned programmes and projects
Administration and management of sector programmes and projects
Formulation of annual budgets based on planned programmes and projects
Generation and dissemination of agricultural technology
Delivery of agriculture advisory and extension services and
Monitoring and evaluation of the agricultural sector.

Disaster Prevention

The Disaster Management and Prevention Department shall
(a) assist in planning and implementation of programmes to prevent and/or mitigate disaster in the District within the framework of national policies;
(b) facilitate the organization of public disaster education campaign programmes to:
(i) create and sustain awareness of hazards of disaster; and
(ii) emphasize the role of the individual in the prevention of disaster;
(c) assist and facilitate education and training of volunteers;
(i) to fight fires including bush fires, or
(ii) take measures to manage the after effects of natural disasters;
(d) prepare and review district disaster prevention and management plans to prevent or control disasters arising from
(i) floods, bush fires, and human settlement fires
(ii) outbreak of communicable diseases; and
(iii) earthquakes and other natural disasters.
(e) facilitate the organization of disaster management exercises annually;
(f) ensure compliance with rules in respect of private and public properties to ensure adequate protection against disasters;
(g) facilitate the provision of emergency shelters and services in the event of disasters;
(h) in consultation and collaboration with appropriate agencies, identify disaster zones and take necessary steps to;
(i) educate people within the areas, and
(ii) prevent development activities which may give riseto disasters in the area;
(i) participate in post disaster assessment to determine the extent of damage and needs of the disaster area;
(j) co-ordinate the receiving, management and supervision of the distribution of relief items in the district;
(k) investigate reports and analyze the nature of hazards, vulnerability and risk situations;
(l) facilitate collection, collation and preservation of data on disasters in the district;
(m) inspect and offer technical advice on the importance of fire extinguishers;
(n) co-ordinate the organization of Fire Volunteer Squads at the community level; and
(0) assist and facilitate rescue and valuation services to those trapped by fire and other emergency situations.

Education, Youth & Sports

(1) The education, youth and Sports Department of the Assembly is responsible for pre-school, special school, basic education, youth and sports, development or organization and library services at the district level.

(2) The department harmonizes the activities and functions of the following agencies operating at the district level,

The Ghana Education Service
The Youth Council;
The Sports Council; and
The Library Board.

(3) The functions of the Department are to:
(a) assist in the formulation and implementation of policies on Education in the District within the framework of National Policies and guidelines;
(b) encourage, report on implementation of policies and matters relating to basic education in accordance with reporting format provided by the Minister;
(c) advise the District Assembly on matters relating to preschool, primary, junior high schools in the district and other matters that may be referred to it by the District Assembly;
(d) facilitate the appointment, disciplining, posting and transfer of teachers in pre-schools, basic schools and special schools in the district;
(e) assist in keeping records of teachers;
(f) advise on discipline of teachers in accordance with their conditions of service;
(g) assist in the appointment of school welfare officers;
(h) facilitate the granting of study leave to teachers who gain admission to higher level educational institutions in accordance with the condition of service of teachers;
(i) advise on the appointment of Head teachers;

(j) facilitate the supervision of pre-school, primary and junior high schools in the district
(k) advise on the formation of school Management Committees;
(I) facilitate collection of statistical data and other relevant information;
(m) liaise with the appropriate authorities for in-service training of pupil teachers;
(n) advise on the approval of the opening of private pre-schools, primary and junior high schools;
(0) assist in indenting for the supply of textbooks from national level institutions and the distribution of textbooks to schools in the district
(p) assist to regulate, supervise and control teaching and learning in pre-schools, primary schools, junior high schools and special schools in the district;
(q) advise on the construction, maintenance and management of public schools and libraries in the district;
(r) advise on the granting and maintenance of scholarships or bursaries to suitably qualified pupils or persons to attend any school or other educational institution in Ghana or elsewhere;
(s) facilitate the establishment and maintenance of facilities or centers of excellence for the arts and crafts for recreation;
(t) advise on the provision and management of public libraries and library services in the district in consultation with the Ghana Library Board;
(u) assist the Assembly to formulate and implement policies on youth within the framework of the National policies and guidelines;
(v) advise the Assembly on matters relating to the youth in the district;
(w) advise the Assembly on the appointment, posting, discipline, transfer of officers and welfare of the youth in the district;
(x) advise on the establishment of District Youth Council Committees and appointment of staff;

(y) facilitate supervision, regulation and general administration of youth organizations and their activities in the district;
(z) assist in the collection of statistical data and other information on youth matters in the district;
(aa) assist to build, equip, operate and maintain Youth Recreational and Resource Centers where young people can meet and interact in a healthy atmosphere;
(bb) promote the formation and development of youth organizations to co-ordinate, develop direct and channel the talents and energies of the youth into productive activities;
(ee) assist to liaise with public and private sector agencies to promote youth work and seek resources for youth development;
(dd) submit reports on matters relating to youth development to the District Assembly;
(ee) co-ordinate the organization and supervision of training programmes for youth in the district to develop leadership qualities, personal initiatives, patriotism and community spirit;
(ff) encourage investments in youth programmes and projects;
(gg) assist in organizing voluntary school work camps for school and out of school to enable the youth interact and take part in Community Development;
(hh) facilitate the organization of District Youth Festivals annually;
(ii) organize District Youth Environmental awareness week yearly for the Youth to focus and address problems pertaining to the environment;
(jj) encourage the provision of youth counseling services on career counseling paths, drugs and employment;
(kk) assist the youth to engage themselves profitably in small scale enterprises;
(ll) assist in formulation and implementation of sports policies, programmes and activities of the District Assembly;

(mm) coordinate the preparation of annual youth budget of the District Assembly;
(nn) advise on the
(i) appointment of a District sports organizer;
(ii) appointment, discipline, posting and transfer of personnel for public, sports organizations and institution in the district;
(iii) promotion of efficient management and administration of private sector sports clubs and associations in the district, and
(iv) collection and dissemination of sports statistical data and other information in the districts;
(00) advise the Assembly on all matters relating to sports development in the District;
(pp) facilitate construction, equipping, operating and maintenance of sports stadia and other sporting facilities in the districts;
(qq) assist in organizing sports activities in the district to participate in mass sports, sports for excellence and sports for the disabled in the district;
(rr) assist to organize a District Sports festival at least once a year;
(ss) coordinate the selection and preparation of district sportsmen and women for inter district sports festival and tournaments;
(tt) assist to establish amateur and professional sports associations in the district;
(uu) encourage the establishment of Keep-Fit Clubs in the district;
(vv) facilitate training of community sports leaders and coaches for the Keep-Fit Clubs and sports teams in the district;
(ww) participate in research into matters relating to sports in the district;
(xx) facilitate private sector participation in the provision and management of sports infrastructure in the district;
(yy) assist in the provision of sports equipments to public sports organizations and activities in the districts; and

(zz) facilitate preparation of reports on the implementation of sports policies and matters relating to sports to the District Chief Executive in accordance with a reporting format provided by the Assembly.

Finance

The Finance Department is responsible for the sound financial management of the District Assembly’s resources.

The Finance Department shall

ensure access at all reasonable times to files, documents and other records of the District Assembly;
keep, render and publish statements on Public Accounts;
keep receipts and custody of all public and trust monies payable into the Consolidated Fund;
facilitate the disbursement of legitimate and authorized funds;
prepare financial reports at specific periods for the Assembly;
prepare payment vouchers and financial encumbrances;
undertake revenue mobilization activities of the Assembly, and
make provision for financial services to all departments in the District

Health

(1) The department of Health at the District Assembly level consists of the office of the District Medical Officer of Health and the Environmental Health Unit.

(2) The functions of the Department of Health are to:
(a) advise on the construction and rehabilitation of clinics and health centers or facilities;
(b) assist in the operation and maintenance of all health facilities under the jurisdiction of the regional and district coordinating council;
(c) assist to undertake health education and family immunization and nutrition programmes;
(d) coordinate works of health centers or posts or community based health workers;
(e) facilitate collection and analysis of data on health;
(f) promote and encourage good health and sanitation;
(g) facilitate diseases control and prevention;
(h) advise on management of the sick;
(i) assist to formulate, plan and implement district health policies within the framework of national health policies and guidelines provided by the Minister of Health;
(j) provide reports on the implementation of policies and programmes relating to health in the District Assembly;
(k) advise the Assembly on all matters relating to health including diseases in the district;
(l) advise on the:
(i) appointment, discipline, posting and transfer of health personnel within the district,

(ii) formulation and appointment of District Health management Committee, Advisory Boards, Committee of District Hospital, Polyclinics and Health Centers,
(iii) supervision and control of all District health Institutions, and
(iv) collection of health statistical data and other relevant information,
(m) advise on the licensing and regulation of provision of medical care services by the private sector in the district;
(n) facilitate activities relating to mass immunization and screening for diseases treatment in the district.
(0) assist to educate and inform residents of the district on sanitation and personal hygiene;
(p) facilitate and assist in regular inspection of the district for detection of nuisance of any condition likely to be offensive or injurious to human health;
(q) assist in efficient management of clinical care, community health care and environmental health service in the district infrastructure, to clean the District hospital, polyclinics, health posts and dressing stations;
(r) assist to establish, install, build and control public latrines, lavatories, urinals and wash places;
(s) assist the Assemblies in the licensing of persons to build and operate public latrines, lavatories, urinals, washhouses and related services in the District;
(t) monitor the activities of the operators and report to the District Assembly;
(u) assist to establish, maintain and carry out services for the removal and treatment of liquid waste;
(v) advise on the regulation and provision of services for removal and treatment of liquid waste by the private sector, persons authorized or licensed by the District Assembly;

(w) assist to establish, maintain and carry out the removal and disposal of refuse, filth and carcasses of dead animals from any public place;
(x) assist in the disposal of dead bodies found in the district.
(y) advise on the regulation and provision of services by the private sector licensed by the District Assembly for the removal, disposal and processing of refuse, filth and carcasses of animals;
(z) assist to regulate any trade or business which may be harmful or injurious to public health or a source of danger to the public or which otherwise is in the public interest to regulate;
(aa) assist to provide for the inspection of meat, fish, vegetables and other foodstuff and liquids of whatever kind or nature, whether intended for sale or not and to seize, destroy and otherwise deal with such foodstuff or liquids as are unfit for human consumption;
(bb) facilitate supervision and control of the manufacture of foodstuffs and liquids of whatever kind or nature intended for human consumption;
(cc) assist to provide, maintain, supervise and control slaughter houses and pounds and all such matters and things as may be necessary for the convenient use of such slaughter houses;
(dd) advise on licensing of persons and regulation of the provision of slaughter houses and related services;
(ee) facilitate the prevention and dealing with the outbreak and prevalence of any diseases;
(ff) advise on the prevention of the spreading and extermination of tsetse fly, mosquitoes, rats, bugs and other vermin in the district;
(gg) advise on the establishment and maintenance of cemeteries and crematoria; or
(hh) advise and encourage the keeping of animals in the district including horses, cattle, sheep and goats, domestic pets and poultry; and
(ii) assist in the control of noise, odour, dust and smoke pollution.

Human Resources

The Human Resource Department is mainly responsible for managing, developing capabilities and competencies of each staff as well as coordinating human resources management programmes to efficiently deliver public services Local Government Service (LGS).

Natural Resources Conservation, Forestry, Game and Wildlife

(1) The Natural Resources Conservation Department of the District Assembly is for the sustainable development of the forestry and wildlife resources and protected areas, in the District by combining functions of the Departments of Forestry and Wildlife.

(2) The Department shall
(a) assist the Assembly in the formulation of policies for the conservation of natural resources in the district within the framework of national policy on natural resources, conservation and report on the implementation of the policies and programmes to the District Assembly;
(b) facilitate the creation of awareness on the benefits of forests and wildlife conservation;
(c) encourage investment in commercial timber plantation and the preservation of wildlife;
(d) assist and facilitate the establishment and maintenance of tree nurseries and forest plantations for sale to the public;
(e) facilitate the promotion and support of the development of:
(i) private nurseries, woodlots, fodder poles and timber, and
(ii) district wildlife reserves including rearing of animals for the production of bush meat and horn by individuals, institutions and organizations;
(f) advise on the prohibition, restriction or regulation of the
(i) hunting, capture, killing or sale of animals or any specified species, and
(ii) cutting, logging or destruction of vegetation growing along any river, stream watercourse, degraded hill slopes and river sources and courses;
(g) facilitate replanting or re-forestation of water courses and degraded land;
(h) assist in developing collaborative mechanisms for;
(i) the sustainable management and utilization of timber and non-timber products, and (ii) the protection of forest and water resources from bush fires, illegal harvesting, agricultural encroachment and pollution;
(i) assist the Assembly in the mapping out of areas for natural environment, preservation and protection:
(j) advise the Assembly on measures to embark on to prevent soil erosion; and
(k) assist in prohibiting farming practices which are detrimental to the environment.

Physical Planning

(1) The Department of Physical Planning at the District level shall manage the activities of the Department of Town and Country Planning and the Department of Parks and Gardens.
(2) The Department shall
(a) advise the District Assembly on national policies on physical planning, land use and development;
(b) co-ordinate activities and projects of departments and other agencies induding Non-Governmental Organizations to ensure compliance with planning standards;
(c) assist in preparation of physical plans as a guide for the formulation of development policies and decisions and to design projects in the district;

(d) assist to identify problems concerning the development ofland and its social, environmental and economic implications;
(e) advise on setting out approved plans for future development of land at the district level;
(g) advise on preparation of structures for towns and villages within the district;
(h) collaborate with the Survey Unit in the performance of its functions;
(i) facilitate and participate in research into planning in the District;
(j) assist to offer professional advice to aggrieved persons on appeals and petitions on decisions made on their building;
(k) facilitate consultation, co-ordination and harmonization of developmental decisions into a physical development plan;
(I) assist to prepare a District Land-Use Plan to guide activities in the district;
(m) advise on the conditions for the construction of public and private buildings and structures;
(n) assist to provide the layout for buildings for improved housing layout and settlement;
(0) ensure the prohibition of the construction of new buildings unless building plans submitted have been approved by the Assembly;
(p) advise and facilitate the demolition of dilapidated buildings and recovery of expenses incurred in connection with the demolition;
(q) ensure the prohibition of the use of inflammable materials in the construction or repair of buildings in defi~ed areas;
(r) advise the Assembly on the siting of bill boards, masts and ensure compliance with the decisions of the Assembly;
(s) advise on the acquisition of landed property in the public interest; and
(t) undertake street naming, numbering of house and related Issues.

Social Welfare and Community Development

BACKGROUND

In 1943/1944 the post of secretary of Social Services was created by the colonial Administration to undertake the co-ordination of Social Welfare throughout the then Gold Coast. A year later, the nuclear of the Department was formed by the provision of Executive Staff for the secretary of Social Services, and then came the Department of Social Welfare and Housing.

In 1948, the Social Development branch of the department was established and an experiment in Community Development (called Mass Education) was started by means of a mobile team in Togoland. In August 1951, a plan for mass literacy and mass education was prepared by the Ministry of Education and Social Services. In 1952, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development was established. In 1981, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development was divided into department of Social Welfare and Department of Community Development.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE

The department of Social Welfare, now Department of Social Development was established in 1946 with a mandate for both Social Welfare and Housing. In 1950, its mandate changed, it was limited to only Social Welfare.

The current mandate of the department is to take the lead in integrating the disadvantaged, vulnerable, person with disabilities and excluded into mainstream society.

VISION

A harmonious society in which the survival and development of the sexes, children, the vulnerable and persons with disability are guaranteed

MISSION

To achieve gender equality and equity;
To facilitate the enforcement of the rights of children;
To promote the integration and protection of the vulnerable excluded and persons with disability;

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the department are as follows:

To develop targeted social interventions for vulnerable and marginalized groups;
To provide community based rehabilitation programmes in all communities in the country for persons with disabilities;
To provide professional social welfare services in the municipality to ensure that statutory responsibilities of the Department of Social Development are carried out in the field of Justice Administration, child rights promotion and protection and community care;
To co-ordinate and regulate specialized residential services for children, the disabled and the under privileged youth;
To create awareness on the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, population issues and family planning in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Assembly and other agencies to promote community care strategies;

The Department has three (3) core programmes; child rights promotion and protection, justice administration and community care.

FUNCTIONS

The functions of the department are to:

Develop and coordinate community-based rehabilitation programme for persons with disabilities;
Promote access to social welfare services for the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded groups and individuals;
Facilitate opportunities for NGOs to develop social services in collaboration with the communities.
Carryout the department’s statutory functions in the field of children’s right promotion and prevention;
Secure minimum standards of operation of day care centres through registration, training and regular inspection under children’s Act (560) of 1998.
Provide homes for the homeless, orphaned and abandoned children and assisting in finding for persons and foster parents to care for children whose mothers are seriously ill, hospitalized, in severe state of depression, incarcerated in prisons;
Create awareness on prevention and provide care and support to OVC and PLWHA in the municipality;
Ensure income serucity among the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme (LEAP);
Facilitate the adoption of children;
Promote social, economic and emotional stability in families

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

MANDATE

The department of community development has national responsibility of facilitating the enhancement of living standards both rural and urban communities in Ghana.

VISION

The department is to ensure that community development practices are voluntary and healthy interdependent that will be mutually be beneficial with the shared responsibility to enhance the standard of living of both rural and urban communities.

MISSION

The department of community development exists to promote and ensure improvement to enhance the standard of living of both rural and disadvantaged section of the urban poor in their own initiatives and their active participation in a decentralized system of Administration through adult education.

OBJECTIVES

Within the broad objective of seeking an improvement in the socio-economic well-being of rural and deprived urban communities, the department of community development pursues the following:

To facilitate the dissemination of development related information to the people at the grassroots and relay back to government;
To extend support services in awareness creation, community animation, mass mobilization and grassroots organization to sister development agencies;
To transfer sustainable and employable skills to the youth such as catering services, dressmaking, home management etc.;
To provide technical support and advice towards the construction of essential socio-economic infrastructure for needy communities through self-help and community initiative;
To expose women to available opportunities.

Functions

Provides community education and mobilization;
Supports extension services to government and non-government organizations;
Offers employable and sustainable skills for the youth;
Assists communities to undertake self-help initiated development projects;
Conducts mass education campaigns;
Trains local artisans for community initiative projects;
Trains change agents for rural development;
Trains rural/vulnerable women in entrepreneurial and have management skills.

Trade and Industry

(1) The Department of Trade, Industry and Tourism shall under the guidance of the Assembly deal with issues related to trade, cottage industry and tourism in the district.

(2) The Department shall
(a) assist in the formulation of policies on trade and tourism in the district within the framework of national policy and guidelines;
(b) facilitate the implementation of policies on trade, industry and tourism in the District;
(c) advise the District Assembly on issues related to trade and industry in the district;
(d) assist in the
(i) collection and dissemination of tourism, trade and industry, statistical data and other information, and
(ii) prevention of smuggling in collaboration with agencies responsible for internal security, Customs and Excise;
(e) prepare and submit half-yearly reports on tourism, trade and industries to the District Assembly;
(f) assist in sourcing funding to support the implementation of programmes and projects to promote trade and industry in the District;
(g) facilitate the promotion and development of small scale industries in the District;
(h) advise on the provision of credit for micro, small-scale and medium scale enterprises;
(i) assist to design, develop and implement a plan of action to meet the needs and expectations of organized groups;
(j) co-ordinate the organization of field extension works to identify projects, collate relevant data, disseminate information and provide feedback information;
(k) assist and facilitate the provision of infrastructure required to accelerate the implementation of policies or execution of programmes on trade and industry including estates in the district;
(l) assist in the establishment and management of rural ansmall-scale industries on commercial basis;
(m) promote the formation of associations, co-operative groups and other organizations which are beneficial to the development of small-scale industries;
(n) assist in offering business and trading advisory information services;
(0) facilitate the promotion of tourism in the district;
(p) assist to identify, undertake studies and document tourism sites in the district;
(q) facilitate private sector participation in the development of tourism in the district;
(r) compile a register of all trade , industry/associations in the district;
(s) advise on prescription of conditions for the operation of markets by the private sector;
(t) assist to regulate and control markets including the fixing and collection of stallage rents and tolls;
(u) advise on licensing of petrol and gas services and filling stations in the district;
(v) advise the Assemblies on the prohibition, restriction, regulation and licensing on the:
(i) manufacture
(ii) distillation
(iii) sale
(iv) transportation
(v) distribution
(vi) supply
(vii) possession, and
(viii) consumption of any alcoholic beverage including “akpeteshie”, palm wine and fermented liquors;
(w) assist to provide for the control, regulation, inspection, supervision and licensing of:
(i) social halls, dance halls and places of entertainment
(ii) hotels, rest-houses, lodging and eating houses, and
(iii) premises or lands where a profession, occupation, trade or business is carried out.

Births & Deaths

The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the general administration, supervision and control of Births and Deaths registry in the RCCs and MMDAs. The specific functions:

To register births and death in the Service
Maintenance of database of births and deaths in the Service;
Advises the RCCs and MMDAs on matters related to civil registration.

Works

AMALGAMATION OF WORKS RELATED UNITS AT THE MMDA LEVEL

As part of efforts to successfully implement the decentralization concept in Ghana, Government introduced L.I 1961 of 2009 which gives effect to the Local Government Service Act, of 2003 and provides for administrative decentralization which seeks to assign functions as well as human resources from central agencies to the district level. It also operationalized the composite budgeting system which is provided for in Act 462 by integrating the budgets of the departments into that of the Assembly.

The legislative instrument, L.I 1961 of 2009 triggered the establishment of decentralised departments as Departments of MMDAs. Accordingly, it became mandatory for MMDAs to establish these departments. Following the enactment of the Local Government (Department of District Assemblies) Commencement Instrument which came into force on 24th February 2010, and the ceremonial transfer of the affected staff from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were mandated to establish departments outlined in the first and second schedules of the L.I. 1961.

The L.I (L.I 1961) seeks to operationalise the decentralised departments at the district level as Departments of the District Assemblies (DAs). Under Section 161 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1993, Act 462, 22 decentralized departments at the district level ceased to exist in their present form and are to be reconstituted through series of mergers into 16 Departments in the Metropolitan Assemblies, 13 in the Municipal Assemblies and 11 in the District Assemblies under Section 38 (first Schedule) of the Act.

Following the amalgamation of some old departments, the Works Department has been introduced. The new Works Department of the District Assembly is a merger of the Public Works Department, Department of Feeder Roads and District Water and Sanitation Unit, Department of Rural Housing and the Works Unit of the Assembly. The new Works Department consist of three units/sections namely the Water and Sanitation, Roads and Building units. The Works Department shall among others:

Assist the Assembly to formulate policies on works within the framework of national policies.
assist to inspect projects undertaken by the District Assembly with relevant Departments of the Assembly
Assist to establish and specify the programmes of action necessary for the implementation of physical plans.
Advise on the construction, repair, maintenance and diversion or alteration of the course of any street.
Advise the Assembly on matters relating to works in the district.
Assist to prepare tender documents for all civil works projects to be undertaken by the Assembly through contracts or community initiated projects.
Encourage and facilitate maintenance of Public buildings and facilities in the district.