By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, GNA
Zebilla (U/E), Oct. 20, GNA – The Bawku West District Assembly has reported significant progress in healthcare delivery, education, water and sanitation, agriculture and infrastructure development as part of efforts to improve the living conditions of residents.
Mr James Ayamwego, District Chief Executive (DCE), made the disclosure during the district’s “Accounting to the People” town hall meeting held at Zebilla.
The meeting, on the theme: “Resetting Ghana Agenda – Creating Jobs, Ensuring Accountability and Promoting Shared Prosperity,” provided a platform for the Assembly to present its achievements, discuss challenges and engage residents on development priorities.
Mr Ayamwego said the Assembly remained committed to ensuring that public resources translated into tangible benefits for residents, with emphasis on completing inherited projects and delivering new infrastructure.
“The era of awarding projects and not completing them is over. Our focus is on completing inherited projects, initiating new ones, and ensuring every cedi translates into tangible benefit for our people,” he said.
On healthcare, the DCE said the Assembly had completed an Outpatient Department (OPD) block at the Googo Health Centre, a maternity block at Gbantongo and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds with staff accommodation at Weari and Tonde.
He said solar power systems had also been installed at health facilities in Komaka and Sapeliga to improve service delivery.
Mr Ayamwego said the district had implemented several public health interventions, including seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children under five years, achieving coverage of more than 90 per cent.
He said Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in the district had reached 88 per cent.
The DCE added that 739 women were screened for breast cancer during the October 2025 awareness campaign, while four maternal deaths were audited and corrective recommendations implemented.
In the education sector, Mr Ayamwego said the Assembly had completed and operationalised three-unit classroom blocks at Kukurizua, Bulinga, Tonde, Timonde, Zabzoaga and Adonsi.
He said 16 schools damaged by storms were rehabilitated at a cost of GH¢205,858, while work on other classroom projects was ongoing.
The DCE said the Assembly continued to collaborate with development partners, including the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), to improve access to education through scholarships, mentoring programmes and the provision of learning materials.
On water and sanitation, Mr Ayamwego said 30 boreholes fitted with hand pumps had been drilled across the district to improve access to safe drinking water.
He said two additional boreholes at Soogo and Teshie were currently being mechanised.
The Assembly had also completed a slaughterhouse at Zebilla and evacuated refuse dumps at Teshie Station, Zebilla Primary, Alarigu, Binaba and Sapeliga to improve environmental sanitation.
Mr Ayamwego said the district continued to benefit from government interventions and development partnerships aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening livelihoods.
He said 1,193 smallholder farmers had been registered under the Smallholder Agricultural Development Programme (SADEP), while 7,199 farmers received training in good agricultural practices, land preparation and compost production, among others.
He said 30 female farmers had also received support under the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) for dry-season tomato cultivation on 160 hectares of land.
The DCE further reported progress in local economic development, including the completion of 10 market stores at Sapeliga and the construction of a district model market at Lamboya.
He said the shea butter processing plant at Tanga had been completed structurally and fitted with machinery but was awaiting a four-phase electricity extension before operations could commence.
On social protection, Mr Ayamwego said 392 persons with disabilities received economic empowerment support in 2025, including assistance for farming, education, livestock rearing and mobility enhancement.
He said the Assembly would continue to strengthen partnerships with development organisations and promote citizen participation through town hall meetings and other community engagement platforms.
Despite the progress made, the DCE identified inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, illegal mining activities, security concerns linked to the protracted Bawku conflict and increasing refugee arrivals as major challenges facing the district.
He said the Assembly would intensify internally generated revenue mobilisation through digitalisation, deepen collaboration with security agencies and traditional authorities and ensure the completion of outstanding projects.
Mr Ayamwego reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the prudent management of public resources to promote inclusive development in the district.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s email:[email protected]