MUNICIPAL FARMERS’ DAY CELEBRATION
The Jomoro Municipal Assembly on Friday, 2nd December 2022 observed its 38th edition of the National Farmers’ Day Anniversary Celebrations under the theme ‘’ACCELERATING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH VALUE ADDITION’’ This year’s celebration was held at the Beyin Catholic School Park, to appreciate and thank the hardworking farmers and fishermen within the Municipality. In attendance were the Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Annor Adjei III, Nanamↄ, Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Louisa Iris Arde, Municipal Coordinating Director, and Heads of Department of the Assembly, Heads of Security Services, farmers and fishermen. In her keynote address, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Louisa Iris Arde said Ghana has a competitive advantage of using agriculture as a tool for the transformation of the National economy because the climate conditions in most parts of the country support the production of non-traditional crops such as rice, vegetables, and fruits, among others better than other countries. This means that through increased production and value chain enhancement, agriculture can lead to an increase in foreign exchange, improving the country’s resources and ensuring a stable economy. She highlighted the tremendous initiatives aimed at agriculture that the government and MMDAs are undertaking to modernize and improve agricultural production and productivity. She touched on Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme, which is contributing significantly to agricultural production. She disclosed that under the programme, the Assembly had raised 13,000 coconut seedlings and supplied them to 106 farmers. 320,000 cocoa nurseries were also raised by the Assembly in collaboration with the Cocoa Health and Extension Division and supplied to 112 farmers. 5,500 rubber stumps were also received and distributed to 46 farmers and encouraged everyone to partake in the ongoing registration to increase the number of farmers on this programme. She hoped that the programme would enhance food security, improve stakeholders along the value chain, increase growth in incomes, increase employment for the youth, women, aged, and PLWDs, value addition of farm produce, enhance private sector participation in the supply chain such as seed maize, improved cassava cuttings, vegetable seeds, improved breeding stock (pigs, poultry, fingerlings, sheep and goat), increase access to extension services and also enhance access to credit and inputs for agriculture in the Municipality. She congratulated the winners and urged them to work harder to win Regional and National Awards. A 47-year-old resident from Teako No. 2 Mr Yaro Kwao Micheal Yakubu was adjudged the 2022 Overall Best Farmer. He received a motorbike, 1 piece of cloth, 5 machetes, 2 pieces of insecticide, 1 litre of weedicide, 2 pieces of Knapsack sprayer, 2 wellington boots, 1 T-shirt and a certificate.
THE MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR JOMORO MUNICIPAL ENGAGES WITH SOME COMMUNITIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY
As part of her mandate to promote and implement government policies at the local level, deliver quality public services and improve social inclusion, the Municipal Chief Executive for Jomoro Municipal Assembly, Hon. Louisa Iris Arde engaged with some communities in the Jomoro Municipality from 15th to 19th August, 2022. She was accompanied by some key staff and Assembly Members. The communities visited were Ellonyi, Kengen, Twenen, Agyeza, Allengenzule, Allowule, Mpeasem, Anlomatuope, Jaway, Jaway Wharf, Metika, Mbem, Tikovo No.2, Bawia, Nvellenu, Ebonloa, Nsuoano, Ghana Nungua, Cocoatown, New Ankasa, Fante Newtown Samenye, New Nzulezo, Azuleti and Nuba She expressed gratitude to the Chiefs and Elders for the unflinching support and fervent prayers they offered during her nomination and confirmation as the Municipal Chief Executive for the Jomoro Municipal Assembly. She threw light on the projects that the Assembly had completed and the ongoing ones in the respective communities. The communities presented a host of issues to her and she assured them that t Management of the Assembly would take the necessary steps to ensure that the issues were addressed. She added that the Assembly is working very hard to bring the needed development that would improve the living conditions of the people in the Municipality and called for their full support and cooperation.
MCE TOURS EXAMINATION CENTERS
There was a scene of excitement among students (candidates) at all the centres in the Jomoro Municipality on Monday, October 17, 2022, at the commencement of the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination when the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Loiusa Iris Arde, toured the centres to monitor the process as well as encourage the students to approach the exams with the mindset of achieving excellence to urge them to the next level of their educational pursuit. The Municipal Chief Executive, accompanied by the Municipal Information Officer, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service and other senior officers of the Ghana Education Service in Half Assini visited all the centres in the municipality to interact with the candidates, invigilators and supervisors. The visit afforded her the opportunity to encourage the candidates to give off their best and avoid examination malpractices which could jeopardize their future. Hon. Louisa Iris Arde further asked the students to shun fear and put up a sterling performance in anticipation of attaining excellent results at the end of the examination process which is expected to end on Friday, October 21. She said that the BECE was very critical in the academic path of Junior High School students as it offers the ladder to open up doors to their future and advised the invigilators to provide an environment that would enable the students to successfully go through the process.
WESTERN REGIONAL MINISTER TOURS JOMORO DISTRICT
The Minister for Western Region, Hon. Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, yesterday, 9th September 2022, paid a working visit to the Jomoro Municipality. The purpose of his visit was to inspect projects that the Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, had initiated in the Municipality. He first paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Annor Adjei III and presented to the Awulae his vision to ensure that the Western Region becomes the number one tourism destination in Ghana. As a result, he toured Fort Apollonia at Beyin to determine its current state and assess its tourism potential. He proceeded to Nzulezo to have a panoramic view and also unearth the tourism capacities of the area that would help the Government to implement policies that would help attract tourists to the area. He again went to Elubo to inspect the completed Articulator Terminal and a 42-bed Polyclinic that the Government has built. In a meeting with the contractor, it was disclosed to the Minister that the facility is 99% complete and boasts an Out-Patient Department, Theatre, In-Patient Service, Medical, Pediatrics, Maternity Wards, Sterilisation, store, delivery rooms, Pharmacy and ultra-modern medical equipment. In an interview with the media, the Hon. Minister posited that by November, 2020, the President would inaugurate the facility to improve health delivery to the people and also ease the pressure on the Half Assini Government Hospital. The Hon. Minister furthermore went to Ezinlibo to inspect the Forward Operating Base (FOB) to ascertain the progress of work and the challenges thereof. The Minister had an engagement with the Engineers and Consultants of Amandi and Vulux Constructions, and he was told that the project is 34% complete and is expected to be completed by the 4th quarter of 2024. In bringing his visit to a close, the Minister met with the management and staff of the Jomoro Municipal Assembly at Half Assini and interacted with them. He spoke on strategies that would help the Assembly to generate more revenue. He also touched on the reintroduction of the Town Council to help deal with sanitation in the Region.
NCO/UNDP SENSITIZES WOMEN AND YOUTH-LED MSMES TO TRADE UNDER AFCFTA IN JOMORO MUNICIPALITY
A sensitisation workshop was held at Crown Hotel, Half Assini for 120 women and youth-led Micro, Small Scale and Medium Enterprises to trade under the AfCFTA. The workshop pinpointed value addition to locally produced products for export.The program was organised under the auspices of UNDP, AfCFTA, and NCO and supported by the Jomoro Municipal Assembly. In attendance were Dr Fareed Arthur (National Coordinator), AfCFTA, Hon. Ato Panford (Senior Advisor), NCO, and Hon. Catherine Ablenlema Afeku (Senior Advisor), AfCFTA.
Head Of Local Government Service Visits Jomoro Municipal Assembly
The Head of Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, on Thursday 1st September 2022, paid a working visit to the Jomoro Municipal Assembly to interact with the staff. The visit forms part of the Head of Service’s familiarisation visits to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. Accompanying the Head of Service were the Chief Director of Local Government Service Mr. Oppong Mensah, the Chief Director of Western Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Frederick Agyemang and the Director of Human Resources, Local Government Service, Mr. Peter Essaim Asante. He was met on arrival by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mrs. Louisa Iris Arde, the Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mrs. Joyce Akosua Angmorteh Miezah and some Heads of Departments. Ing. Dr. Ato Arthur commended the Assembly for the performance in the 2021 DPAT assessment and urged the staff not to rest on their oars. He reminded the officers of the need for professionalism in their quest to give their best while ensuring political neutrality, creativity and innovation. He also admonished the staff to be punctual and demonstrate the highest level of confidentiality, harmonious working relationships among colleagues and the promotion of teamwork for a healthy working environment. He responded to issues and questions raised by the staff and urged the staff to lend their full support to the Management of the Assembly, especially in the area of revenue mobilisation.
JOINT COMMEMORATION OF THE 2022 AFRICAN BORDER DAY AT ELUBO
The Municipal Chief Executive for Jomoro, Hon. Louisa Iris Arde together with the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs Joyce Akosua Amgmorteh Miezah, graced the commemoration of the 2022 African Border Day held at Elubo under the theme ”Challenges of the Cross-Border, Cooperation and Management of Shared Resources”. In attendance was the Special Advisor to the Cote D’ Ivoire’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Daouda Quattara, the Technical Coordinator for Transboundary Cooperation, Mr Nurudine Oyewole, the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Security Services of both Elubo, Noe Border, the Chiefs and the Media. In addressing the gathering the Hon. MCE said that the commemoration had coincided with the GREEN GHANA INITIATIVE which seeks to create a collective action towards the restoration of degraded landscapes in the country, mitigate climate change and inculcate in the youth the values of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits together with other activities that had been lined up. She expressed gratitude for the cordial relationship and peace that had existed between Ghana and Ivory Coast and admonished all to uphold the strength and unity to deal with terrorism in the sub-region As part of activities for the commemoration, health Screening was done for people to determine potential health disorders such as diabetes, hypertension etc. at French Nungua, Ghana Nungu. Hon. Louisa Iris Arde addressed the negative impact of the border closure of Ivory Coast on the Ghanaian Economy and admonished the Government of Ivory Coast to consider reopening it. The Special Advisor to the Cote D’Ivoire’s Prime, Minister His Excellency, Daouda Quattara expressed his gratitude to the government of Ghana for the peaceful relationship that has existed between Ghana and the Ivory Coast. He said that the government of Cote D’Ivoire had pledged his unflinching support to collaborate with the sub-region to fight terrorism. The Hon. MCE and MCD together with the security personnel from Ivory Coast and Ghana proceeded to French Nungua, Ghana Nungua and, Cocoatown to inaugurate mechanized boreholes that had been constructed by the Ghana Immigration Service in conjunction with the Jomoro Municipal Assembly.
JOMORO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS A NEW PRESIDING MEMBER.
The Jomoro Municipal Assembly has elected Hon. Ebenezer Paul Angovi, Assembly Member for Elubo East, as the new Presiding Member of the Assembly, following a successful voting exercise. Hon. Angovi received an overwhelming endorsement from members of the Assembly. Out of the forty eight Assembly Members present and eligible to vote, he secured forty two valid votes, representing 82.4 % of the total votes cast. Four members voted against his election, accounting for 7.8 %, while two votes, representing 3.9 %, were rejected. In her remarks, the Municipal Chief Executive commended the Honourable Members for their decisive choice, describing it as a commitment to development across their respective electoral areas. She further applauded them for their continuous support and cooperation since she assumed office, and expressed confidence that the new Presiding Member would work collaboratively with the Assembly to advance the development agenda of the Jomoro Municipality.
JOMORO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY
Independence Day marks the end of British rule in 1957 and the establishment of a free, sovereign and independent Ghanaian nation. For this, every 6th March of the year brings ecstatic joy, happiness and pride to the good people of Ghana because the day presents opportunities to celebrate our past and present national heroes who played key roles in the struggle for independence and to consolidate our gains since independence. This national event is celebrated across the length and breadth of the country and Jomoro Municipal Assembly was not left out. The Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Municipal Education Directorate organized this year’s Independence Day celebration under the theme “Working together, bouncing back better” at Half Assini School Park. The celebration was graced by Awulae Annor Adjei, Paramount Chief and President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Nanamↄ, Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Louisa Iris Arde, Municipal Coordinating Director, Joyce Akosua Angmorteh Miezah, Headteachers and youth groups. The participatory schools include Half Assini Catholic Primary & JHS, Half Assini Methodist Primary & JHS, Nana Ayebie Primary and JHS, Ekpu Primary & JHS, Nzemaman Primary & JHS, Christ THE King Primary & JHS, Christian Academy Primary & JHS, Peace International Primary & JHS, Half Assini Senior High School as well as Annor Adjei Senior High School Cadets. In her keynote address, Hon. Loiusa Iris Arde said the theme for the celebration “Working Together Bouncing Back Better” could not be more apt considering the extent to which the COVID-19 Pandemic had ravaged the world and brought untold economic hardship to the entire globe, and the enormous effort that the NPP Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo had made to ensure that the country is able to recover. She said the rich talents and rich human qualities given to us by God would enable us to overcome the challenges posed by the global economic downturn and working together as a people would enable us to bounce back better and to prudently and efficiently manage our economy and bring rapid socio-economic development to our people. She assured that the Municipal Assembly would remain focused on the relevant issues that matter and which would enable us to build a resilient local economy and bring some significant degree of stability, peace, unity and development to the people. She revealed that the goal of the Assembly is to position the Municipality as a magnet for investment in productive ventures to create jobs for the teaming youth. Also, the Assembly is aimed at efficiency in creating a business climate that will rank very high and investing in infrastructure development that would enhance the quality of lives of our people. She said working together, we would surely bounce back better by providing quality education and health care services and making Jomoro a safe and useful abode to the citizenry. She contended as a people our greatest achievements have come when we have lived up to the ideas that unite rather than divide us. Working together, we will attach ourselves to a common sense of purpose thereby bouncing back better. In conclusion, she admonished the gathering to not see the holiday as enjoyment but should find time to reflect on the way forward as we strive to build a better Ghana. They must reflect on the legacies that their forebears bequeathed to us; consider what can be added to that legacy, and commit to leaving a solid legacy for the generation after us. To the school children who had taken in the parade as well as their colleagues who could not participate as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, teachers, identifiable groups and all who have actively participated in today’s event, she saluted and congratulated them. She urged them to continue to observe all the COVID-19 Protocols and ensure that they protect themselves and keep alive. She urged them to continue to work hard at school, take their studies seriously and remain focused on achieving excellence in every endeavour. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Awards were presented to deserving students who excelled and marched with pride during the parade and students who got distinctions in the previous WASSCE and BECE examinations.
JOMORO MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST EMBARK ON A CLEAN-UP EXERCISE
The Jomoro Municipal Assembly collaborated with the Church to observe its Annual *Environmental Care Campaign* at Half-Assini. Chocked gutters were distilled to allow a free e flow of water. It was a way to revive the one cherished communal labor spirit Ghanaians used to exhibit. We were privileged to have the security services partake in the exercise. Hon. Louisa Iris Arde led the Assembly whilst Pastor Joseph Kingsley Anokye led the Church of Pentecost. She thanked all and sundry for their commitment shown.