On 20th May 2019, a stakeholders meeting for Chiefs, Assembly Members and the general public was held at Juapong by the Management and Staff of the North Tongu Dsitrict Assembly. The Townhall meeting was to brief the general public on the Projects and Policies Implemented by the North Tongu District Assembly.
The District Coordinating Director, Mr. Prosper Agbenyo, welcomed all those present to the occasion and said he looks forward to a fruitful engagement between the Assembly and the public.
The first presentation was delivered by the District Director of Agriculture. He spoke about the work his department is doing to improve food security in the district. He stated that, the government has made the agricultural sector their utmost priority and as such they are putting a lot of efforts in place to help farmers get the necessary support they need. Among the list of programmes that has been put in place by the government is the Planting for Food and Jobs, Special Rice Initiative which is under the Planting for Food and Jobs and the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD). He stated that the government is seriously backing this program called the Special Rice Initiative because as at now Volta Region is the leading producer of rice in the whole country. Due to that the government has supported the North Tongu District with a very good rice seed which when planted, a farmer can harvest about 35 Sacks of rice in just one Acre. He spoke extensively about the Planting for Food and Jobs to be implemented by the district.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of North Tongu, Hon. Richard Collins Arku made a lengthy and detailed presentation on the developmental projects he has implemented from the time of his appointment as DCE. Among the few projects he deliberated on are the renovation of Mepe Bishop Bowers Junior High School, the completion of the Vome Junior High School which is a 3- unit classroom block, the on-going construction of a Classroom Block at Agorveme.
Also, the Hon. Richard Collins Arku spoke about the completion of the School Block at Tsijenu. He further went on to mention the construction of the School Block at Melenu which was abandoned for some time but now fully completed with an Ancillary facility attached. He commented on the CHPS Compound completed at Alabonu. And about the Zomayi Junior High school, he stated that the District Assembly worked hand in hand with a Non- Governmental Organization for the project to be completed. There was also a commissioning of a Police Station at Fordzoku to improve security in that part of the district.
He went on to talk about a lot of other projects he has implemented and the massive improvement and facilities acquired at the District Assembly.
After the speech of the DCE, it was time for questions and answers. The questions ranged from the Planting for Food and Jobs, some uncompleted projects, poor use of some structures, and communities that need basic infrastructure. There were also some recommendations on how the District Assembly can improve its work. On the questions asked, the District Chief Executive answered favorably to all of them to the satisfaction of those present and said there are plans in place to extend more basic infrastructure to other parts of the district.
The Townhall meeting was a complete success. The North Tongu District Assembly and its District Chief Executive plan on holding more of such Townhall meeting to bring participation in Local Government Affairs down to the local people.