Local government and rural development committee of Parliament Reviews Flooding, Resettlement, and Development Efforts in North Tongu
Accra – Parliament House, 2025.
Local government and rural development committee of Parliament as held a crucial sitting to review the performance and challenges of the North Tongu District Assembly, with discussions centered on flooding, resettlement, development projects, and financial management.
On the issue of flooding and resettlement, the District Chief Executive (DCE) reported that measures have been rolled out to mitigate the impact of flooding, particularly in communities affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) coordinators have been tasked to conduct sensitization and awareness campaigns in affected communities, including camps for displaced persons. Several households previously living in tents have also been relocated to newly completed apartments provided by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Member of Parliament (MP). Recently, six households were moved into the new apartments. However, approximately seventy-five households still remain without permanent resettlement. Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Works and Housing, which has already secured land and promised additional housing facilities to address this challenge.
The Committee also noted the contributions of the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who has undertaken several developmental projects to support the constituency. These include the construction of a maternity block for the Juapong Health Center, which was commissioned two weeks ago, as well as the provision of hospital equipment for both the Juapong Health Center and the Battor Catholic Hospital. The MP has also made arrangements to distribute chop boxes and mattresses to 2,207 BECE candidates, scheduled for tomorrow. Other initiatives include the construction of a Kindergarten (KG) block for Aveyime Methodist Basic School, alongside the provision of sheds and other social infrastructure to support affected communities.
The District Assembly also highlighted its development projects, both completed and ongoing. Completed projects include a new school block at Avedzi, a kindergarten block at Tongu-Asimekorpe, a culvert at Batror, and the construction of feeder roads in targeted communities. In addition, three more legacy projects are currently under preparation and awaiting approval from the Ministry of Local Government.
On financial performance, the Assembly reported that Internally Generated Funds (IGF) collection had improved significantly. As of August this year, the Assembly had collected ₵1.1 million, compared to ₵800,000 within the same period last year. With respect to the Common Fund, the Assembly has so far received two tranches amounting to ₵6.9 million.
During the meeting, the District Finance Officer was commended for efficiency and prompt responses. The DCE and her team were also encouraged to maintain their strong collaboration with the MP in order to accelerate development projects and address community challenges effectively.
In conclusion, the committee commended the Assembly for the progress made in addressing flooding, resettlement, and development needs. Stakeholders emphasized, however, that more work needs to be done to secure permanent housing for the seventy-five households still at risk of flooding. They called for continued partnership among the Assembly, the MP, NADMO, and the Ministry of Works and Housing to tackle these outstanding issues and ensure the resilience of communities in North Tongu.