Archive for category: Government News

“The theme for the 66th Independence Day Anniversary; ‘ Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose’, embodies the urgent need to work together to overcome the dire consequences of the turmoil confronting us as a nation”. This was noted by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah during this year’s Independence Day celebration that took place at the Jubilee park within the Ashanti Regional capital.

According to Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah, ‘we need to bring back the unity of purpose to engender the needed strength required to address the challenges we face as a country.

Despite the challenges that the whole world is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russian-Ukraine war of which Ghana is not an exception, the Government of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has introduced several policies and programs such as Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development, Rearing for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory among others aimed at helping to address the fundamental economic challenges, he added.

The Regional Minister explained that despite the challenges, the Ashanti Region has received an appreciable number of development projects since 2017. Some of these projects are the Kumasi International Airport, the Boankra Inland Port, TVET, STEM and Creative Art Schools, Health facilities, Residential accommodation complex for Court of Appeal Judges, the Kejetia/ Central Market Phase II among others.

Touching on the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council’s (ARCC) initiative to beautify the Ashanti Region, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah indicated that the ARCC together with MMDAs within the Region in 2018 started an initiative to clean and green the Region. The initiative has however been rebranded after partnering with ZOOMLION under the name Sustainable Cleaning, Greening, and Beautification of Ashanti project. Under the current project, 13 Assemblies within Greater Kumasi have been supplied with new waste collection trucks.

Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah expressed his gratitude to the President for appointing him for two successive terms, currently making him the longest serving Ashanti Regional Minister under the Fourth Republic.

The event, which was a joint celebration of the 7 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) within the Greater Kumasi namely was attended by all the 7 Metropolitan namely (Suame Municipal Assembly, Asokwa Municipal Assembly, Tafo Municipal Assembly, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kwadaso Municipal Assembly and Oforifrom Municipal Assembly) Municipal Chief Executives as well as all heads of the security services and heads of department. The representative of the Asantehene, Bantamahene and Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI chaired the occasion.

This year’s celebration witnessed 6 Cadet and 5 Non Cadet Senior High Schools, 8 Public and 5 Private Basic Schools as well as 3 School Bands drawn from the various MMAs participating in a parade together with contingent from the security forces.

At the end of the march past, St. Loius SHS and Osei Kyeretwie SHS were adjudged the best performing SHS for cadet and non-cadet respectively. At the Basic category, D & D Academy and Roman Girls JHS were adjudged best performing school for private and public schools respectively as well.

This program was organized by Ghana health service in collaboration with the GES and the Environmental Health Department on 15^th February 2023. The workshop was attended by school caterers Ghana Health staff, Environmental Health officers, schools SMC members, school health coordinators.

The Suame Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Directorate of National Security has organized a 1 day Seminar for identifiable stakeholders in the municipality to sensitize the citizen on the emerging Security Trends.

The main speaker for the Seminar, Col. Kofi Arthur (RTD) gave an overview of the emerging trends in the security situation in the Saharan. He said, due to the volatile nature of Countries in the upper part of Ghana and the porous nature of our boarder, there was the need for the citizens to be able to be serious with security issues and adopt pragmatic and precautionary and measures to safeguard their environs.

In his presentation, Signal Control Officer, The National Security Mr. Osei Kuffour used power to present a Graphic and Visual Images of some Atrocities of Insecurity in some countries.

He said militant groups like Al-Shebaab, Al- Qaada, Boko Haram are recruiting prospective youth. He therefore called on Traditional Authorities, Religious Groups, Landlords, School Children and the Entire People to be on the lookout. He concluded by re- echoing the slogan IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING.

Suame Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, (Technical Support Unit) Kumasi, commemorated the World AIDS Day on Thursday, 1^st December, 2022 under the theme: 20 years of a multi-sectoral HIV response: Accelerating progress to end AIDS.

The following activities were undertaken to mark the day.

• Street activation (displaying placards with HIV/AIDS messages to educate the general public.
• Distribution of HIV/AIDS literacy materials
• HIV/AIDS education
• Distribution of Condom and condom gel
• HIV Testing and Counselling services at the forecourt of Presbyterian Church, Maakro
• Other health screening included (Hepatitis B and Malaria)

On 12th October, 2022, a mass sensitization event was held at Suame Magazine, with the goal of creating demand for the patronage of the bio digester toilet, as part of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Sanitation and Water Project (SWP). The event brought together representatives from seven Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) who were also constructing bio digester toilets under the project.

To ensure maximum outreach, the assemblies divided themselves and educated the people in Suame Magazine and its surroundings. Participants from Suame included Honourable Assembly members, Environmental Health Staff, and the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) from GAMA.

The event was held in front of the Suame Post Office, and it aimed to sensitize the public on the benefits of using the biodigester toilet over the traditional pit latrine. The attendees were educated on the ecological and health advantages of using the biodigester toilet, including the prevention of groundwater contamination.

Overall, the event was successful in creating demand for the patronage of the biodigester toilet. It provided an opportunity for the MMDAs to engage with the public, answer questions, and clarify any misconceptions. The mass sensitization event was an essential step in achieving the goal of improving sanitation and reducing open defecation in the Municipality.