Ayensuano District Assembly Tackles Education, Allowances, Security and Development Challenges at First 2025 Ordinary Meeting
The Ayensuano District Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerated development, improved security, and accountable governance following its First Ordinary Meeting of the Second Session of the Fourth Assembly, held on Monday, 18th August 2025, at the District Assembly Hall in Coaltar .
The meeting brought together the Presiding Member, Hon. Ebenezer Ofori, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Joshua Lartey, the Member of Parliament for Ayensuano Constituency, Hon. Ida Adjoa Asiedu, Assembly Members from across the district, and key heads of decentralized departments.
In his opening remarks, the Presiding Member expressed gratitude to members for their presence and emphasized the need for unity, renewed commitment, and collective responsibility in achieving the district’s development agenda. He particularly welcomed newly appointed Assembly Members and encouraged them to actively contribute their expertise toward advancing local governance and service delivery.
Addressing the House, the Member of Parliament, Hon. Ida Adjoa Asiedu, reaffirmed her readiness to work closely with the Assembly to improve education, health, agriculture, and security in the district. She outlined planned interventions including classroom renovations, provision of desks, scholarships, and the annual distribution of mathematical sets to support quality education and enhance the welfare of residents.
A major highlight of the meeting was the discussion on the District Chief Executive’s Sessional Address, during which Assembly Members raised critical concerns about uncompleted Middle Belt School projects across several electoral areas. Members lamented that the abandonment of these facilities was negatively affecting teaching and learning, forcing some pupils to study under makeshift structures. The District Development Planning Officer clarified that the projects were national initiatives and cautioned communities against undertaking unauthorized construction works, which could create contractual complications. He assured the House that government had recommitted to funding the projects and that they had been captured in the District’s Annual Action Plan and Budget.
Assembly Members also expressed dissatisfaction over delays in the payment of sitting allowances, despite the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund. The District Finance Officer acknowledged the delay, explaining that allowances had not been budgeted for earlier in the fiscal year but assured members that payment processes had now been completed on the GIFMIS platform. On the issue of taxation, the District Budget Analyst clarified that allowances are taxable under the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896), and that a Ministry of Finance directive mandates a 20% tax deduction on Assembly Members’ allowances.
Security issues featured prominently, particularly the continued non-operational status of the Dockrochiwa Police Station, despite its completion and commissioning. The District Police Commander explained that a post-commissioning inspection by National Police Headquarters identified structural and operational deficiencies that must be addressed before deployment of personnel. The Assembly resolved that management should urgently liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure the station becomes fully operational to enhance security in the area .
Members further raised concerns about the deteriorating state of roads in the district and the non-use of DRIP machines meant for road reshaping. The Acting District Engineer explained that a directive following a change in government required the machines to be parked pending further instructions. He disclosed that 80 kilometres of roads were reshaped in the last quarter of 2024, while the District Finance Officer pledged to present a comprehensive financial report on the DRIP programme at the next meeting to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Assembly unanimously accepted the Executive Committee’s Report and adopted both the report and the DCE’s Sessional Address as working documents of the Assembly, following a motion moved by Hon. Emmanuel Ayitey and seconded by Hon. Douglas Adu Gyamfi.
Under other matters, members highlighted security threats faced by revenue collectors during night collections and proposed enhanced protection measures. The House also welcomed a proposal to create a WhatsApp group comprising Assembly Members and departmental heads to improve information sharing and coordination.
Several key resolutions were adopted, including a ban on open cattle grazing, intensified action against illegal mining and sand winning, registration of all Assembly lands, establishment of an Assembly Farm Management Committee, enforcement of the Gaming Act against jackpot operators, and retrieval of Assembly properties unlawfully occupied by private individuals. Management was also tasked to organize sensitization programmes for okada riders, capacity-building for Unit Committee members, and to resource Area Councils adequately .