ESMA Organizes Town Hall Meeting at Sekyedumase

On Tuesday 15th of November 2022, the Municipality organized a town hall meeting at sekyedumase Community Center. The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Dr. Kingsley Osei in his opening remarks stated that Town Hall Meetings are special platform for the Assemblies to openly account its stewardship to the public.

He continued that it’s a period set aside for the public to question Management of the Assembly on the usage of the resources held and entrusted to them for the optimum benefit of the Municipality.

He added that the entire country is in crises due to the COVID 19 pandemic, and the Russia – Ukraine war.  He encouraged all to continue praying for the country and added that he believes that the NPP Government led by his Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, and support from International Monetary Fund (IMF) things will be normalized.

Mr. Adjei Joshua the Municipal Budget Analyst, in his presentation explained that the sources of funding for the Assembly were two aspects and they were the Internally Generated Fund (IGF), and funds from external source which included District Assemblies common Fund, DPAT, PWDs Common fund, Grant and many others.

He emphasized that IGF for 2022 was One Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-seven Million (GH¢1,287) and as at August 2022, Nine Hundred and Sixty-seven Thousand (GH¢967,000.00) was received.  He said the IGF Budget was categorized into three (3) parts.  Thus:

• Salaries and Allowances = GH¢2.8 Million and had spent GH2.3Million as at Aug.
• Goods and Services = GH¢150,000.00 and had spent GH¢44,000.00 as @ Aug.
• Assets = GH160.00 and had spent 53,000.00 as @ Aug.

Mr. Adjei Boateng further explained that the estimated budget for 2023 was GH10,500,000.00.  He said the proposed budget will cater for action plan of Central Administration, Finance, Physical Planning, Education, Health, SWCD, Disaster, among others for the year 2023.

The Development Planning Officer for the Municipality, Mr. Webadua Lawrence in his presentation stated some of the Developmental Projects of the Assembly in the year 2022; he said they were construction of six (6) One Number Six Classroom block at Ejura, Sekyedumase, and Anyinasu respectively, KG Block at Drobong, one storey girls dormitory at Anglican SHS, Ejura, rehabilitation of two community centers in the Municipality, Drill and Merchanized three bore hole, among others.

After all the presentations, opportunity was given for questions to be asked.  The questions included issues surrounding the water problem of the Municipality, Agriculture, Fulani Herdsmen, among others.  The Municipal Coordinating Director and HODs of the various sectors answered all the questions raised by the people.