Ghana Armed Forces Command undertakes a Study Tour of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality

On Friday, 20th November 2018, The Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality received a team of personnel’s from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Senior Division on a study tour of the Region. The Study tour of the Region by the team was to last for (8) eight days; that is from the 17th to 24th November 2018.

The team comprises of Seven (7) Directing Staff, Twenty Three (23) Students and Five (5) Drivers / Administrative Staffs.  Nine (9) out of the Twenty three (23) Students were from other countries such as Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Togo.

The focus of the study tour, which was in a way centralized on the effects of decentralization, was to:

• Evaluate the impact of decentralization on poverty alleviation and youth unemployment
• Assess the extent of financial decentralization in support of rural development
• Examine the effectiveness of decentralized security architecture in crime prevention, safety and security and
• Analyze the place and role of chieftaincy in the decentralized administration at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Mohammed Salisu Bamba, Members of the Traditional Council, Heads of Departments, Security Service and other dignitaries, met and received the Team at the Municipal Assembly Hall.

The M.C.E, Hon. Mohammed Salisu Bamba carried out a Slide Presentation related to the study’s focus areas of evaluating the impact of decentralization on poverty alleviation and youth unemployment; and assessment of the extent of financial decentralization in support of rural development.

He touched on benefits of decentralization to Municipal Assemblies in Ghana and also elaborated on the under listed interventions towards on poverty alleviation and youth unemployment;

He noted that, Educational Projects are top priority, followed by Water & Sanitation and Health Projects respectively; evidenced by their expenditure allocation.

He also presented Pictorial documentation of works related to the above listed interventions.

The Nifahene (Nana Osei Kojo Ansebie) of the Ejura Traditional Council who happens to be and Ex-Military Man also carried out a Presentation on the role of chieftaincy in the decentralized administration at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on behalf of the Ejurahene, Bariamh Osei Hwedei II.

His presentation saw an insight on the Historical development of chieftaincy institution and concept of local government as well as the Role of Chiefs in local government.

Lastly, the Police Crime Officer also made a presentation on behalf of the Security Services in relation to the focus area of the effectiveness of decentralized security architecture in crime prevention, safety and security.

Issues talked about concerned

• Challenges facing the Municipality by Robbery Attacks,
• Youth Vigilantism and excessive use of hard drugs,
• Invasion of Fulani Herdsmen and the Crimes they commit and the
• Illegal felling of Teak trees from the Forest Reserve within the Municipality.

Recommended was the establishment of a military post within the municipality and the support of community leaders and citizen for the security agencies as to ensure effective crime control, crime prevention and general security.

The Team had an open floor for questions. Most of the questions asked related to Security, Economy, Education, Employment, Tourism, Youth Development and many more. The Municipal Chief Executive along with other concerned Heads of Departments provided satisfactory answers the all the questions asked.

On the issue of Tourism and among others, The M.C.E took the opportunity to announce his initiative for the development of a Website, which severs as a tool to aid in advertising the Municipality to the rest of the world.

Management presented to the Directing Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Woven Kente Scarfs and Pen drives with copies of the Presentation Slides on them.

The Team by Presenting branded T-Shirts, Head Caps and other souvenirs to Management, reciprocated a similar gesture, as the meeting ended with the exchange of gifts and pleasantries.

The Team and Management later paid a courtesy call on the Nananom of Ejura Traditional Council under the Chairmanship of Bariamh Osei Hwedei II, Ejurahene, but the Ejura Kontihene Nana Diasempa Antwi received them in his absence.

Present at the Palace were the Zongo Chiefs and other related members of the Ejura Sarkin Zongo Traditional Council.

Issues discussed concerned Security, Education, Employment and the State of the Youth in the Municipality.

The traditional Council presented about a hundred (100) tubers of yam, some Livestocks, Drinks and other items as gifts to show gratitude to the Team for their visit and requested of them to include duly their findings made in the municipality in their final report.

A feast was later in the day held and hosted by the M.C.E, Hon. Mohammed Salisu Bamba at his residency for the Team.

The Team as part of their Study Tour of the Region had a scheduled to visit the Ghana Tourist Board at Bonwire and departed accordingly. In All the Event was however a successful and memorable one.