The Central Regional Minister, Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, has urged the clergy, Imams, and chiefs to utilize their platforms to educate the public on the importance of desisting from activities that harm the environment. He made this call at an accountability forum organized by the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly. The forum aimed to explain how the district's share of the 2025 District Assemblies' Common Fund was utilized and to receive feedback from residents.
Mr. Okyere emphasized that using religious platforms is crucial as they are powerful mediums that can reach a large audience and help bring about attitudinal change. He noted that if pulpits and mosques were effectively used to educate people against littering and indiscriminate dumping of waste, Assemblies would not have to spend 10 percent of the Common Fund on waste collection.
The Minister encouraged the people to change their behavior to retain the Common Fund allocated for sanitation for more developmental projects, particularly in the education and health sectors. He also highlighted that successes are not achieved in a vacuum but through planning and hard work. The government, he added, is undertaking programs, projects, and innovations aimed at improving the lives of citizens despite the challenges it inherited.
The District Chief Executive for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mrs. Olivia Bentil, outlined the district's vision to become a leading district in improving the quality of life through wealth creation, sustainable development programs, and good governance. She mentioned that the district's population, based on the 2021 Population and Housing Census, is approximately 143,780, with 32 electoral areas, eight towns, and area councils.
In terms of revenue, Mrs. Bentil stated that in 2025, the Assembly budgeted GH¢26,779,269.20 and received GH¢14,624,616.00 as its share of the Common Fund. The Assembly utilized the fund according to government directives, executing various projects and initiatives. GH¢3,656,154.00, representing 10 percent of the fund, was allocated to ongoing construction works on a 24-hour market.
Mrs. Bentil provided further details on the allocation of funds, stating that GH¢1,462,461.60 each was allocated to health, water, the environment, and furniture. Additionally, GH¢5,288,114.22, representing five percent, was allocated to administration, while GH¢2,024,193.78, representing 20 percent, was allocated to legacy projects. The DCE highlighted several priority projects executed, including government flagship programs and the construction of CHPS compounds, schools, and mechanized boreholes.
Nana Osa Fori III, the Chief of Brakwa, who chaired the event, expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for the projects being executed to improve the lives of residents. He commended the Assembly and the Member of Parliament for the numerous projects executed in 2025 with the district's share of the Common Fund. Nana Fori also appealed to the President, the MP, and the District Assembly to consider other communities yet to benefit from development projects.
Key points
- The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, urges the use of religious platforms to educate the public on environmental conservation and sanitation practices.
- The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly received GH¢14,624,616.00 as its share of the 2025 District Assemblies' Common Fund.
- The district utilized the Common Fund for various projects, including a 24-hour market, CHPS compounds, schools, and mechanized boreholes.
