CLEAN-UP EXERCISE BY NASPA-KKMA
As part of ensuring environmental cleanliness within communities gave towards the promotion of good health and productivity, regular cleaning of residential premises and public places must be encouraged. It is in light of this that the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) in collaboration with the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit (EHSU) of the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly undertook a clean-up exercise on Friday, the 12th day of May, 2023 at the ZEKKAS Zonal Council.
At about 7:00am, all personnel gathered at the Zenu Cluster of schools. The Municipal NSS Manager; Mr. Immanuel Nii Larte Lartey in his remarks stated that the decision to embark on the clean-up exercise in Zenu Township was to emphasize the importance of keeping a clean and healthy environment. He also stated that Zenu was chosen because it was a commercial town with a market and lorry stations which needed to be clean at all times. It was also a way of educating the residents and operators at these areas so they could repeat similar activities as a way of keeping their immediate surroundings clean. The NASPA President, Emmanuel Turkson also added that the exercise was planned by the entire NASPA executives as a step to achieve the association’s goal on environmental health and sanitation “To encourage personnel to imbibe the spirit of volunteerism, patriotism, leadership and dedication.
The Assembly organized the cleaning tools with a compactor truck for the exercise. Two teams were then created for the exercise. One was at the Zenu school junction and the others were at Atadeka. At Zenu school junction, participants desilted the silted drains on both sides on the main roads, towards the market area to the star oil filling station. Aside the desilting, there were sweeping, weeding and collection of solid waste matter.
At Atadeka, the exercise began at the bridge towards the Atadeka station. Both drains at the side of the road were desilted, with other personnel sweeping and gathering other receptacles. Environmental Health Officer from the ZEKKAS zonal council joined the personnel to supervise the conduct of the exercise.
At about 12:30pm, both groups completed the scheduled tasks and assembled at the Atadeka Zonal office for closure. During the gathering, Immanuel lartey, the NSS Manager asked personnel to socialize by interacting with each other to share some experiences so far gained at their various departments, since they were s erving at different Zonal Councils.
Mr. Michael Ewurah, a Public Health Analyst in the Environmental and Sanitation Unit thanked the personnel on behalf of the Assembly for a great work done. He reiterated that these exercises as conducted were to assist in creating awareness in the communities for community members to become responsible in cleaning their immediate environments as part of the implementation of the Operation Clean Your Frontage bye-laws. He promised the personnel of Assembly’s continuous support towards such community activities.
Mr. Immanuel Lartey; NSS Manager supporting NASPA personnel.
NSS personnel distilling choked gutters
NSS personnel’s sweeping the compound of Zenu Cluster of School
NSS personnel’s gathering rubbish around the gutters
A great team of volunteers
INAUGURATION OF GBETSILE COURT HOUSE
The Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah on May 18th 2023 inaugurated the first ever court to be built in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality. The court was funded through the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and is part of projects by the government to build 120 courts and 150 bungalows for the judiciary throughout the country.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon Samuel Okoe Amanquah in his welcome address expressed his profound gratitude on behalf of the people of Kpone-Katamanso to the chief of Gbetsile and Divisional council for giving land free of charge for the building of the court. He appealed to other well-meaning individuals and companies to emulate such worthy gesture by investing in useful projects that will benefit the entire community. Hon. Amanquah noted that the court will handle cases within the Municipality and its surrounding communities and ultimately help to enhance justice delivery in order to bring relief to the people in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality and beyond.
The Chief of Gbetsile, Nii Teye Kojo Amanquah Sune I in his remarks expressed his gratitude to officials of Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly and the Government for their immense support towards making the project come to fruition. He pleaded with the Government to construct the deplorable roads within the Municipality.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Henry Quartey for his part said he was excited to be part of such historic and memorable event. He admonished the Traditional authorities and the general public to patronize the courts and desist from settling cases that have to be properly adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. He also asked the judicial service to collaborate with the Municipal Assembly to ensure strict enforcement of sanitation bye-laws to help facilitate the “Operation Clean Your Front” campaign by the Greater Accra Coordinating Council.
The Chief Justice of the Republic, Justice Anim Yeboah in his inaugural speech expressed appreciation to the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly and all stakeholders, including the Gbetsile Traditional Council, for their contributions to addressing the challenges of access to justice in the Municipality. He added that the facility would not only ensure access to justice but also attract businesses and investors to the Municipality. Justice Anin urged the judicial service staff who would be manning the court to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in the delivery of their mandate.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Member of Parliament for Kpone Constituency, Hon Joseph Akuerteh Tettey, the MCD; Mr. Joshua Adams Asihene, Hon Agbeshi Laryea; Former MP for Ashiaman, Staff of the Judicial Service, High Ranking Officers of the Ghana Police Service, the clergy, Assembly members and the media.
His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah delivering his inaugural speech
Hon. Henry Quarter, Greater Accra Regional Minister, seated to his right is Hon. Samuel Okoe Amanquah; Municipal Chief Executive of KKMA.
Nii Teye Kojo Amanquah SuneI; Chief of Gbetsile
The MCE in a pose with Hon Quarter and Justice Anin Yeboah
Dignitaries in a group picture
Unveiling of plaque by His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah
STAFF DURBAR AT KKMA
A staff durbar was held at the forecourt of the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly on Friday, 31st March 2023. The meeting was held with the purpose of deliberating on the issues that bothers on staff members.
The MCE; Hon Samuel Oko Amanquah in his welcome remarks and outlined some of the challenges being faced by the Assembly. He stated that revenue mobilization has been a challenge due to the several economic hardship and central Government taking over property rate collection from the Assembly which has made it difficult to pay the monthly salaries of the 188 internal generated fund (IGF) staff of the Assembly. He encouraged staff to discharge their duties professionally to give the Assembly a positive image. He touched on lateness to work and entreated all and sundry to be punctual and disciplined at all times.
HON AMAQUAH DELIVERING HIS WELCOME ADDRESS
Mr. Kwame Asamoah Dwomoh, of CLOGSAG was present with other executives at the staff durbar.in an address, Mr Dwomoh spoke about the Pension Act 208, new condition of service for workers and neutrality allowance. He also enlightened staff on the Pempamsie fund and workman compensation.
The MCD; Mr Joshua Adams Asihene answering questions during the open forum.
Members of staff were given the opportunities to ask questions on issues that were bothering them and also offer constructive suggestions. Some of the issues raised by staff included office accommodation, lack of logistics to work with, transportation to the office, better condition of service especially for IGF staff, allowance for extra duties, among others.
The MCD; Mr Adams Asihenerevealed to members of staff that management will soon renovate the various offices and also put up a canteen for staff at the office premises. He also assured staff that all their concerns will be critically looked at.
Banks, insurance companies and estate developers were present at the staff durbar to sell their products to staff.
CREDIT: Informatiom Services Dept, KKMA
KKMA MCE DONATES POLY-TANKS TO ELECTORAL AREAS
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Samuel Okoe Amanquah on the 10th January, 2023 donated some polytanks to some selected electoral areas to enhance accessibility and to improve on sanitation.
The MCE, in October, 2022 embarked on a community engagement to all electoral areas within the Municipality. The visit was for the MCE to acquaint himself with challenges faced by the constituents within the Electoral Areas.
During the visit, it was disclosed that, Bossah, Hebron and Onukpai Abu Electoral Areas had challenges with water supply.
The MCE, moved by the disturbing information of lack of water supply, he promised to provide them with poly-tanks to help salvage the situation to some extent.
Bemoaning the lack of water supply to those areas, the Hon. Amanquah indicated to the gathering that, the lack of water could lead to life threatening diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio, which could eventually affect the general wellbeing of the people in the Municipality.
He added that, to reduce the occurrence of some diseases in the Areas, the constant supply of water was very essential. He further stated that, in line with the Government Programme on National Community Water and Sanitation Strategy (NCWSS) to ensure Universal coverage for water and sanitation services by 2025, which in detail terms means, “ all people living in Ghana have access to adequate, safe, affordable and reliable basic water service, practice safe sanitation and hygiene and that water resources are sustainably managed” and also in line with Strategic Development Goal (SDG’s), the SDG 6 is an ambitious desire to “ensure availability abd Sustainable Management of water and Sanitation for All” by 2030. Targets 6.1 and 6.2 calls for safe drinking water, sanitation abd hygiene for the equitable access to safe and adequate services for all, as well as end open defecation. The Government of Ghana has aligned itself to the goal and targets and is working tirelessly to achieve them.
He also added that, plans are far advanced to ensure that Ghana Water Company extends water supply to the areas in need. Also, the Assembly together with the various Assembly members are exploring further opportunities for drilling Bore-holes in the communities facing acute water shortages.
He advised the people to keep their surroundings clean, pay their property rates and required tolls to assist the Assembly to provide the needed services to the entire Municipality.
In this regard, the Hon. MCE decided to fulfil his promise to the people by providing them with 3 units of 9000 liter capacity poly-tanks to these Electoral Areas.
The presentation was made on behalf of the Hon. Municipal Chief Executive by the Co-ordinating Director Mr. Joshua Adams Asihene, supported by other Heads of Departments in the Assembly.
Mr. Joshua Adams Asihene presenting the poly-tanks to the Assembly men.
The Assembly member for the Hebron Electoral Area Hon. George N. Ahinguah received the poly-tanks on behalf of all the Electoral Areas. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation to the Municipal Chief Executive for fulfilling his promise. He also acknowledged that providing the Electoral Areas with poly-tanks will help reduce water shortage in their respective Electoral Areas, and pledged that the poly-tanks will be used for its purpose and they will also ensure regular maintenance to enhance its longevity in water storage and supply.