On 23rd January, 2020, the North Tongu District Assembly in a ceremony inaugurated Assembly Members elected to the District Assembly. The ceremony was held at the forecourt of the District Assembly. All Assembly members were present at the occasion.
The brief meeting had in attendance, Mr. Sam Okudzeto (Member of the Council of State), Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (Member of Parliament for North Tongu), the District Chief Executive of North Tongu District - Hon. Richard Collins Arku., Chiefs, Assembly Members, Head of Departments and Agencies, Staff of the North Tongu District Assembly and the General Public.
The Assembly, created in accordance with the 1992 constitution and local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936) has 42 Assembly Members who swore the oath of secrecy and allegiance of office at the inaugural ceremony.
Mr. Sam Okudzeto on behalf of the President said, the functions of the District Assemblies, as provided by the Constitution included; the formulation and execution of plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilization of resources for the overall development of the District.
He also said, the Government has launched, and is pursuing, a number of policies and programmes aimed at improving the welfare and well-being of Ghanaians including Free SHS, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Exports and Rural Development (PERD), One Village One Dam, among many others.
He encouraged the Assembly Members sworn in to work with the Assembly to ensure compliance to building rules and regulation on the zoning and development of lands to avoid flooding and loss of lives.
The Member of Parliament, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in his address congratulated elected Assembly Members and welcomed all present to the inauguration. He commended the president for the two-ambulances given to the district due to its vast area size and difficulty in reaching some communities.
He then outlined some activities carried out under his watch, such as the expansion of the children’s ward at the Battor Catholic Hospital and provision of hospital equipment. He then outlined major activities to be initiated in the district, which includes the construction of Aveyime to Sege road, Volivo Bridge construction, place of resident for ambulance staff to mention a few.
He then concluded by acknowledging all for making an effort to make the inauguration a fruitful one.
The next speaker was the Honorable District Chief Executive for North Tongu District, Hon. Richard Collins Arku, he welcomed all Hon. Assembly members and dignitaries. He then congratulated Assembly Members for the position handed over to them by their people to represent them. He urged them to make constructive and meaningful contributions thereby helping in the development of North Tongu.
Hon Collins Arku, also spoke about the Construction of an Ultra-Modern Court for the district in the adjudication of cases. He urged all Hon.Assembly members to unite and work hard to bring more developmental projects to the District.
After the speeches, Mr. Prosper Agbenyo, the District Co-ordinating Director then commenced the first sitting of the General Assembly for 2020. The process for the election of a Presiding Member was initiated. After several rounds of voting there was still no clear winner. Since there was no consensus, the election of the Presiding Member was moved to a new date after which a closing prayer was said.
The programme came to a close after which all invited guests were refreshed.
