The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sefwi Juaboso in the Western North Region, Hon. Martha Kwayie Manu has observed that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Stands for free as pertained in most of his policies especially those via Social interventions and flagship programmes.
According to her, Nana Akufo-Addo has not only preached such frees, but has also practiced them to the latest and by all standards.
Subsequently, besides the success story of the “Free Senior High School” Programme, Nana Akufo-Addo has rolled on other frees into the system to the administration and beneficiaries of the citizenry.
These include “Free School Feeding Programme, free National Health Insurance for its beneficiaries, free training for Nursing and Teachers Trainees free artisan training and many more”.
Hon. Kwayie made this observation at Juaboso last Wednesday November 6, 2019 during the “Meet the Press Session” organized by the District Assembly, where she rolled out massive developmental programmes of the Assembly.
Bordering on, Administration, Governance, Agricultural sector, water and Sanitation, Trade and industry, Employment flagship programmes and many more, the programmes also comprised continued and ongoing projects as well as completed ones. It took her over four (4) hours to do the presentation on power point.
Hon. Kwayie maintained that since the Nana Akufo-Addo led New patriotic Party administration has the people of Ghana at heart, it has brought about a number of Social interventions to mitigate against the suffering and hardship of the people.
She pointed out that with fee School feeding for school children, the Nana Akufo-Addo administration is also ensuring that they get free medical care Via NHIS” so that, as they eat free they also get free medical attention, Free SHS, Free Nursing /Teacher Training and many more frees. In fact Nana Akufo Addo stands for free!” she said, smiling, thus attracting applauses.
ENROLMENT OF FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND FEEDING
The DCE pointed out that in the 2017/2018 academic year a total of 487 students, comprising 256 boys and 231 girls were admitted in Form 1. Then in 2018/2019 597, comprising 348 boys and 249 girls were admitted in SHS 1. For SHS 2 a total of 452 comprising 231 boys and 221 girls admitted in that same year.
For 2019 / 2020 Academic year 525 comprising 122 boys and 130 girls for SHS 1 597, comprising 348 boys and 249 girls for SHS 2 and 452, comprising 231 boys and 221 girls were recorded for SHS3.
On the number of free school feeding schools, Hon. Kwayie indicated that the number had shot up from 10 in 2017 to 33 in 2019, with the breakdown as 2897, 6252 and 9238 for 2017 /18/19 respectively
EDUCATION
The DCE pointed out that under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), a number of educational facilities were under construction in the district. These included the construction of 1 No 6 unit classroom block and ancillary facility and computer lab at Juaboso School ‘A’ 65% complete, the construction of a Girls Dormitory Block at Juaboso Senior High School 60% complete and a No. 6 unit classroom Block and toilet facility at Juaboso Senior High School, 60% complete
HEALTH
According to the DCE under NHIS, a total of 37, 066 beneficiaries were registered in the district, out of which 15,469 registered through the mobile renewal process and 1,221 registered freely under the School feeding programme. She pointed out that the District Assembly is also supporting the constructing of a children’s ward at the District Hospital at Juaboso
SOCIAL INTERVENTION
Hon. Kwayie maintained that under this programme, LEAP and PWD were enhanced. She indicted that under LEAP, a programme that provides cash grants to the extremely poor households across the country, covered 30,000 households nationwide. Out of this, the Juaboso District Assembly was located 30 communities to benefit from the already existing 161 households. Out of this, 411 have been issued with E-zwitch cards, thereby increasing the number of beneficiaries from the previous figure of 381 to over 1000.
On PWD (People living with Disability), Hon Kwayie Stated that the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, together with the Disability Fund Management committee (DFMC) is mandated to disburse the 3 % share of the District Assembly Common Fund to PWDs and periodically monitor to ascertain the impact of the disbursement.
The rational is to ensure that PWDs live well and to provide economic empowerment for them. She said a total of 199 PWDs have benefited from the fund since 2018
EMPLOYMENT
Hon. Kwayie pointed out that the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme, which is a major government initiative, aimed at addressing graduate unemployment, is expected to recruit, train and employ about 100,000 graduates, to be deployed to different terms and conditions across the country.
She said a total of 360 graduate applicants applied within the Juaboso District.
YEP
Touching of Youth Employment Program (YEA) the DCE stated that a total of 441 youth had so far benefited from the programme Breaking them down further, she said community Protection Police had 57, Youth in Agric Extension, 7, Arabic instructors 2 and youth if Afforestation 381
AGRICULTURE
Hon. Kwayie noted that since Agriculture was the mainstay of the district in particular and the country at large, employing over 60% of the population, government had rolled on a number of programmes to benefit the people . These included, planting for food and jobs (PFJ) rice and maize sessions, and Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD).
Also there was this special Rice Initiative and the District Center for Agriculture, Commerce and Technology (DEACT)
The DCE pointed out that under the Cocoa Health Extension programme a total of 325 cocoa farms were re planted with plantain sockets and cocoa seedlings covering a total farm size of 478.48 hectares
TRADE AND INDUSTRIES (IDIF)
Hon. Kwayie Manu indicated that in this regard, the District Assembly was constructing, 1 No Rural Market with storage facilities and mechanized borehole at Juaboso. Also, 1000 metric tons grains warehouse is under construction at Juaboso. This, if completed , will store excess grains produced under PFJ. The Assembly is also constructing 1 No. 24 Unit Market shed at Sayerano, which is 50 % complete under DACF
Source: S.O Ankamah, Sefwi Juaboso