Blog – Page 2 – Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly.

As part of Government effort to promote and implement the Right to Information Act 989, Act (2019)
The Right to Information Unit of the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly (ACMA) in collaboration with the Access to Information division (ATI) of the Information Services Department (ISD), Ministry of Information on Thursday, 18th November 2022 educated Stakeholders within the Municipality on the Right to Information Law.

The sensitization Education started with a welcome address from the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Assembly Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Quaye who indicates the purpose of the education saying that “we are here to familiarize ourselves with the provisions of the RTI Act 989 and also make stakeholders aware that it is their Fundamental right to request for Information under Section 1 of the Act 989 (2019)

Facilitators of the training Mr Senanu Nyadro and Mr. George Frimpong who are Principal Information Officers with the division took time to expound on the topics of the Background, application process, Exemptions and the decision of the Commission on the Right to Information Act.

The sensitization Informed participants about the details of the of the implementation as stated in the constitutional right to Information held by public institutions, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of public interest in a democratic society.

The Education also saw and interactive session where participants had the opportunity to ask questions and make contributions to the conversation.

1.0 Background

As part of the mandate of the office of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) to promote and implement government policies at the local level, deliver quality public services, and improve social inclusion, the MCE engages the various communities in the Municipality in order to fully realize harnessing the potentials of the Assembly for growth.

2.0 The objective of the MCE’s Community Engagement

The objectives of the engagement are;

Interact with the chiefs and people of the communities to get firsthand information on the challenges they face and how best the Assembly can address them
Sensitize the community members on their rights in order to highlight the need to increase participation in the Assembly’s activities
Highlight and promote partnership with business enterprises in the Municipality

3.0 Opening of the forum

The facilitator for the session who doubles as the Assembly member for Aryee Diki, Hon. Alexander Twumasi-Mensah in his remarks commended the Municipal Chief Executive for rolling out such a program to advisedly comply with the dictate of the governing laws of the land, as well as other officers of the Assembly for participating in the community engagement program.

The queen mother of the Mallam Atta market was given the opportunity to introduce the various leaders of the market. Some of the leaders she introduced were, the leaders for tomato sellers, corn and cassava dough sellers, onion sellers, vegetable sellers, fish sellers, Meat sellers, charcoal sellers among others.

3.1 Remarks by the Municipal Coordinating Director

The Municipal Coordinating Director thanked the leadership of the market for giving the Assembly the opportunity to engage with them. She used the opportunity to welcome them to the meeting and indicated the Assembly’s continuous support to the cause of the Municipality in general. She added that the leadership has been expecting this meeting for a very long time and that she is particularly happy that finally this meeting has been organized. She indicated the Assembly’s willingness to take their grievances and work towards them.

The Queen Mother introducing the Market leaders

4.0 Remarks by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Quaye

The Hon. Municipal Chief Executive thanked the leadership of the market, participants and all stakeholders who made it to the engagement session with the Mallam Atta Market traders.

He further indicated that he is instructed by law, especially the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) to engage all stakeholders in the Municipality to put together all needs and aspirations of the people in the communities, and profess lasting solutions to curb them.

He further indicated that his office is bent on allocating time to discuss issues of development pertaining the Mallam Atta market.

He urged participants to take interest in partaking effectively in the forum to open the floodgate of bringing for new proposals that would encourage sustainable solutions to the challenges.

The Municipal Chief Executive made a short presentation on the achievement of the Assembly as follows:

4.1 Programmes Implemented Since Establishment

The Municipal Chief Executive also briefed the traders on some of the projects and programmes the Assembly has implemented over the period of its existence. He added that the Assembly is doing a lot with tolls it collects from traders. He therefore encouraged each and every one to do his/her best to pay, since the little put together could be used to undertake more developmental project. He highlighted some of the projects and programmes that Assembly has been able to implement since its establishment. Among them were;

Construction of storm drains
Construction of U-drains
Maintenance works at the Mallam Atta Market
Installation of metal gates at the Mallam Atta Market
Maintenance of Street Lights across the Municipality
Construction of Fence Walls at some Basic Schools
Provision of Water Storage Facilities
Construction of 4-storey Assembly office complex
Classroom blocks for some basic school (including KG blocks)
Disbursement of the PWD component of DACF
Settle Child non-maintenance cases
Sensitization programs on good hygiene practices
Distribution of furniture to GES office and schools
Facilitate the formation of reading clubs in schools
Enforcing the construction of household toilet facilities
Screening food handlers to ensure safety

In his conclusion, he urged participants to consciously assist the Assembly to deliver the best for the Municipality to enhance the livelihood of the good people of Ayawaso Central Municipality.

The MCD answering questions from the participants

5.0 Concerns raised by traders of Mallam Atta Market

One participant quizzed, is the Mallam Atta Market is a residential place or a market place? In furtherance, the participants indicated that the market place has become the home for some people near and far and even for some traders who do not sell at the market. Some of these people even get up at dawn and bath in the market. They added that, from 7:00 pm the market is used as entertainment grounds.
Poor security at the market place: the traders also reported on the frequent occurrence of theft in the market. People break into peoples locked cupboards to steal their items.
The market gets flooded whenever it rains: the participants explained that, anytime it rains, the market becomes inaccessible and so wanted to know the measures the Assembly can put in place in solving this.
Poor sanitary condition of the market: the traders again raised the concern that, people dump used diapers, human waste into the gutters, which is causing serious health problems to the market women.
Another concern was the fact that there were rumors going on that the market is being sold out.
Some of the traders also raised the concern that the charcoal and meat sellers do not pay their daily tolls as required of them.
They also raised the concern of the market being surrounded with so many dogs. These dogs do pose threats to some of the users of the market.

6.0 Responses by the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD)

The MCD in her response indicated that the market area is designated for market activities, therefore, any residential use of the area would not be countenanced. She further indicated that it would be so easy for the Assembly to eject any person in the shortest possible time, using same for residential facilities. She added that the Assembly has plans for the place and that the Regional Minister has even assured his commitment to lead the process when the time comes. She therefore asked that the people exercise patient. She continued to say that until that time, the Assembly will do it best to protect the place. She even sighted an example of the erection of the gates as one of the measures the Assembly took but unfortunately they were destroyed within a fortnight.
With regards to the place getting flooded when it rains, the Municipal Works Engineer said what could be done in the interim since the whole market is earmarked for redevelopment, would be to gravel the flooded place. He added that, an assessment will be carried out by the Municipal Works Engineer for further action to be taken.
The concern raised with regards to the fact that the charcoal and meat sellers do not pay the daily tolls. Both the charcoal and meat sellers admitted to this fact. The meat sellers attributed this to the fact that, after they had paid for their medical certificate it took so long a time before the certificate was issued to them. They added that now that they have that certificate they will start paying the daily tolls.

According to the charcoal sellers, they have been paying the daily tolls. After some deliberations, it was realized that what they do pay was for the bulk charcoal when they are brought. MCD requested that aside the payment for the bulk goods, they also need to pay the daily tolls.

With the poor market sanitary condition, the Municipal Coordinating Director responded that, the Assembly is aware the market has its own bi-laws governing the activities and operation of the market. She requested that the various leaders of the market organize to have a meeting with management so that those laws would be accepted and use as bi-laws to regulate the activities and operations in the market to minimize some of the bad practices going on in the market.
The concern with dogs seen over all the market place, the MCD asked the leaders of the various sections to give notice to the owners of the dogs to make sure all the dogs are removed from the market as soon as possible. She also tasked the Assembly Members to also assist in ensuring that this is done.
The Municipal Coordinating Director further noted that, since the traders are faced with a lot of challenges, the market leaders should schedule a meeting with the Regional Minister, Assembly members and all the other relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the challenges as soon as possible.

7.0 Closing

In his Closing remarks, the Hon. MCE noted the concerns of participants with passionate interest and assured them that the Management of the Assembly will take the necessary steps to ensure their challenges are addressed. The MCE added that the Assembly is working very hard to bring needed development that would improve their living conditions.