Access to Quality Roads Key to Boosting Food Production and Local Economic Growth – Ahafo Ano South East DCE

The District Chief Executive for Ahafo Ano South East, Hon. Nelson Yamba Issaka Ibrahim, has underscored the importance of improved road infrastructure as a critical driver of food production and local economic development in the district.

He made this known while delivering his sessional address at the Third Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Ahafo Ano South East District Assembly held on December 22, 2025. According to the DCE, access to quality roads, particularly in rural farming communities, remains one of the Assembly’s key strategies to enhancing agricultural productivity, easing the transportation of farm produce and strengthening the local economy under the Feed Ghana Programme.

Presenting a status report on the implementation of programmes and projects of the Assembly, as well as recommendations from the Executive Committee for consideration and adoption, Hon. Yamba disclosed that the Assembly mobilised a total of GH¢379,348.00 as Internally Generated Funds (IGF) as at November 2025. This figure represents 36.55 per cent of the budgeted amount of GH¢1,038,000.00 for the period under review. He noted that the Assembly did not receive any funds from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Secretariat during the period.

On the Persons with Disability (PWD) Fund, the DCE informed the House that an amount of GH¢507,896.58 had been received for the first, second and third quarters of 2025, against a budgeted figure of GH¢863,218.39, representing 58.84 per cent. He assured beneficiaries of the Assembly’s commitment to the transparent and effective utilisation of the fund to improve their socio-economic wellbeing.

Touching on security, Hon. Yamba said the district continued to enjoy relative peace and stability, attributing this to the effective collaboration among the security agencies. He stated that the District Security Council (DISEC) remains steadfast in its mandate of addressing security threats through coordinated strategies to ensure the safety of lives and property in the district.

Under projects and programmes, the DCE outlined several development projects earmarked for implementation under the 2025 DACF, indicating that contracts had been awarded and work had commenced. These include the construction of two CHPS compounds with nurses’ quarters at Nsuta and Mofra Mantukwa, a two-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Nimfourkrom, a three-unit Junior High School block with ancillary facilities at Banahene, and a six-unit primary school block at Sabronum Nyambekyere. The Assembly is also undertaking the drilling of five mechanised boreholes and the installation of five hand-pump boreholes in selected communities.

In the education sector, Hon. Yamba announced that the district recorded a 100 per cent pass rate in the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination, with a total of 1,552 candidates successfully passing. He attributed the achievement to the collective efforts of learners, teachers, school authorities and other education stakeholders. He further noted that inter-school and inter-reading festivals were organised to promote a strong reading culture among pupils in the district.

On governance, the DCE indicated that the District Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) had been initiated and prepared in line with the National Development Policy Framework and guidelines, and duly certified by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

Addressing agriculture, Hon. Yamba reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to supporting rural farmers to boost productivity, improve resilience and enhance their welfare. He emphasised that access to good road networks remains a major strategy for enhancing food production and stimulating local economic development, especially in rural areas. He also announced that the Nkoko Nketenkete poultry initiative is ongoing and assured that applicants would soon receive their chicks to commence backyard poultry farming across the district.

He concluded by assuring the people of Ahafo Ano South East of his dedication to inclusive development and called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate the district’s development agenda.