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| Ekumfi MP, Hon. Dr. Ekow Kwainoe in a group photograph with staff of Ekumfi District Assembly |
As part of his familiarisation and working tour within the Ekumfi Constituency, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Dr. Othniel Ekow Kwainoe, has paid an official visit to the Ekumfi District Assembly. The visit on Monday, February 3, 2025, aimed to foster stronger collaboration between the MP’s office and the Assembly to promote development across the district.
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| Hon. Dr. Ekow Kwainoe |
During a meeting with the management and entire staff, Hon. Dr. Kwainoe expressed worry about the performance of the district which found its way in the Public Accounts Committee hearing. He emphasised his commitment to a collaborative approach in addressing the challenges of the district.
He underscored that his mandate comes from the people, and his success is tied directly to meeting their expectations. “I’m here because of my people, because they gave me authority and power to do their work. They expect nothing but the best from me, so if I fail, I will lose my seat. I come with a lot of fire because I must deliver on the promises I made during my campaigns,” he stated.
The Parliamentarian stressed the urgent need for change, highlighting that, repeating the same approaches would not yield different results. “For that change to happen, we must be ready to be agents of change,” he added, urging staff to enhance accountability, innovation, and a results-driven mindset.
Hon. Ekow Kwainoe requested an inventory of all uncompleted projects in the district as well as their action plan, emphasising the need to track progress and ensure accountability.
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| Mr. Osei Yeboah, Coordinating Director, Ekumfi District Assembly |
Mr. Douglas Osei Yeboah, the District Coordinating Director, commended Dr. Kwainoe on his move to ensuring a collaborative progress for the district. He called for cooperation with the assembly to fight for the establishment of a Fire Service station to improve emergency response capabilities, Immigration Service post to enhance security within the district. Other key areas of focus included harnessing the district’s tourism potential for economic growth, boosting local commerce and supporting traders by constructing a market complex, streamlining legal matters, especially land-related issues and ensuring innovative revenue generation regime.
He requested the MP to present his schedule on the disbursement of his common fund so as to enable the assembly have a comprehensive budgetary allocation for the district.
Hon. Dr. Othniel Ekow Kwainoe called for unity and hardwork assuring staff of his open-door policy, encouraging them to share ideas and suggestions freely. “Don’t see yourself as too small because wisdom cometh from areas that we don’t even expect,” he said, stressing the importance of teamwork in achieving the district’s developmental goals.
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| A section of Ekumfi District Assembly Staff at the meeting |
Assembly staff raised concerns about poverty, with only 3% of budget allocations reaching the district, significantly limiting development efforts.
Sanitation was also identified as a major issue, largely attributed to behavioural factors. The MP urged the Assembly to intensify public education campaigns while enforcing sanitation regulations.
Calls we made to establish a dedicated land desk to manage development-related land issues and prevent litigation. The suggestion also included earmarking lands for specific purposes to attract investors.
On revenue generation, Dr. Kwainoe encouraged the Assembly to adopt innovative strategies, leveraging data and best practices to boost internally generated funds. “I am very hands-on. I’ll be checking, looking, and asking questions because I believe that’s how progress is made,” he remarked.
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| Mr. Zibrim |
Mr. Safianu Zibrim, the Budget Analyst, appealed to the MP to look beyond his Common Fund allocations and actively seek additional support from the Common Fund Secretariat to finance key projects in the district.
As the district awaits the nomination of a District Chief Executive, Dr. Kwainoe emphasised that, whoever is appointed must align with the collective vision for Ekumfi’s growth. “My minister has made it clear that, the DCE is coming to work for the government and with the MP. Therefore, it’s my duty to ensure that whoever becomes the DCE aligns with the vision we have for the whole of Ekumfi.”
Hon. Ekow Kwainoe concluded with a passionate appeal; “Help me so that we can all build Ekumfi and this District Assembly together. I’m sure that when things get better, it will benefit all of us.”
By: Yusuf Ibrahim Dadzie
