Our yesterday’s engagement with staff of Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly-Ghana Republic, was absolutely remarkable. The reception and hospitality was at a gratifyingly high level that one maybe worried should a kindness of such be offered in return.
The people are amazingly friendly and loveable. What is mind-strking is their kindness and willingness to overtly share their knowledge and experience with strangers about local governance and their enriched culture.
Their local foods are impressively wonderful and appealing. At Buffet Restaurant, cross-section of the delegation enjoyed eating *_’Banku_* ‘, a tilapia fish with pounded cassava, plantain/yam, whilst others found pleasure in eating a similar prepared recipe of tilapia fish with variety of vegetables.( *Eating fish as a meal instead of condiment)*_.
An unforgettable local food we ate is also the sourceless rice with a fetching aromatic smell of brownish sticky paste, called _’ *Shito* ‘_ which can be traditionally eaten with ‘banku’ and many other Ghanian dishes.
The Head of Delegation for the study tour, Madam Vivian Sally Senesi expressed positive sentiments about the long standing diplomatic ties both countries share and the need to strengthen the bonds for a better Africa.
She briefly gave an overview of the study tour and its objective. CA Vivian entreated officials to both share their strengths and weaknesses so best practices from either partner country could be domesticated and recommendations proffered to be adopted for improvement on their weaknesses.
Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly is a progeny of Tema Metropolitan Assembly. The municipal District is vastly made of Savannah land with a population of about 417, 334 (2012 Census) with four zonal Councils.
On local economy, the Assembly majorly harnesses revenue from services, industrial sector/commerce and 20% agriculture. Despite extinction on its arable land.
A peculiar revenue mobilization strategy was shared, wherein collections are done in weekends, holidays and also at night to nab apathetic rate payers. Also, the issuance of Administrative summon letters to tax defaulters who are engaged on reasons for not complying with tax obligations which is normally followed by a prosecution action as a last resort, is also a good practice.
The waste management system is moderately satisfactory with looming prospects to be improved upon in the near future, despite the Assembly is without a waste management department.
Their sludge pool is technologically operated at a treatment plant in Accra, built in 1925. The treated water from sewage is used as coolant for thermal machines in factories.
What Sierra Leone’s councils must also operationalize to the letter is the use of sanitary facilities as a basic requirement for issuance and approval of building permit.
The Assembly’s afforestation strategy is designed in such that a day is dedicated in honour of World Environment day in June 5, called ‘Green Ghana’, wherein thousands of trees are planted and maintained to curb climate change.
On roads and infrastructure, the Assembly is mandated to do minor pavement of roads; a reason for having 40km of paved roads and feeder roads within Kpone Katamanso district.
Conclusively, Councils in Sierra Leone also share common challenges on revenue mobilization, waste and water management and what could be unique is the commitment in getting those challenges resolved for an efficient service delivery.
A souvenir of Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly’s service delivery charter for 2023 was presented to the delegation.
On the whole, the engagement was interactive and educative, despite the planned field visit to their landfill sites and investment projects was abortive due to circumstances beyond control.
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