LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Local economic development according to Ghana’s national decentralization policy (2010), is the process by which local governments, local businesses and other actors outside the locality join forces and resources to enter into new partnership arrangements with each other or other stakeholders to create new jobs and stimulate economic activities.

Policies to promote job creation, the establishment of local industries and the facilitation of intra and inter district trade as well as strengthening the competitiveness of the local private sector are all part of the mandate of MMDAs in the area of economic development.

The District has over the years made significant efforts at reducing poverty and improving the lives of its citizenry. In spite of the progress made in tackling poverty, citizens are still faced with high levels of poverty, and unemployment. At the same time, there are challenges in meeting the needs of the people mostly due to lack of resources.

Addressing these situations requires a new approach to development that focuses on fully harnessing the economic potentials and resources of the local areas for job creation and consequently improved living standards.

The Government’s flagship programmes such as ‘’One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, among others are all geared towards the use of local resources for local development.

The CTDA therefore would promote policies and interventions to promote the establishment of SMEs as a base for industrial development.

 Some of the bottlenecks in achieving this objective are; Poor local level capacity and commitment to provide leadership and direction in policy making (by-laws and processes to regulate/reduce the cost of doing business and maximize the involvement of people in the local economy.

Weak capacity and commitment to respond timely to local entrepreneurs and practical efforts at promoting LED.

Inadequate resource base for LED.

Weak private sector to engage public sector for LED

Poor entrepreneurial culture among citizens

Poor and inadequate infrastructure such as roads, water, power etc.

Absence of adequate economic growth strategies

Informal nature of businesses

Poor access to finance

Limited training

Poor enabling environment

Limited access to post-production infrastructure (i.e. storage, processing, transport etc)

Implication for Development – LED

Promoting LED activities in the District area would lead to job creation, thereby decreasing the unemployment issues.

Increases in job opportunities will as well increase the revenue of the Assembly and the country at large.

However, when promoting LED activities especially those in the extractive states such as sand winning, fishing, etc. without recourse to protecting the environment degrades the natural resources.

1.23 LIST OF DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

1. Inadequate school infrastructure

2. Insufficient supply of textbooks and other learning materials.

3. Lack of maintenance of school infrastructure

4. Inadequate health infrastructure

5. High cost of quality healthcare access.

6. Limited supply of personal protective equipment

7. Inadequate and inequitable distribution of critical staff mix

8. Poor Attitude of Citizenry towards the Environmental sanitation and hygiene

9. High prevalence of open defecation

10. Poor drainage systems

11. Weak enforcement of environmental laws and regulations

12. Environmental Pollution

13. Irregular water supply

14. Seasonal Flooding

15. Increasing Child Rights Violation

16. Limited awareness on Child Rights and Development issues

17. High rate of teenage pregnancies

18. Persistent sexual and gender-based violence against women

19. Low participation of females in public and political offices

20. Limited access to credit facilities by women

21. High poverty among vulnerable households including those disabilities

22. High unemployment rate among vulnerable youth

23. Inaccessible public transport for PWDs

24. Inadequate and unfriendly walkways for PWDs as pedestrians

25. Inadequate funding for the preparation of Spatial Plans

27. Weak capacity of Assembly members and unit committees

28. Limited capacity and opportunities for revenue mobilization

29. Revenue underperformance due to leakages and loopholes

30. Implementation of unplanned expenditures

31. Poor police visibility

32. Weak capacity and interest of CSOs to participate effectively in stakeholder’s engagement

33. Inadequate financial, logistics and human resources

34. Low demand for M&E Results

35. Difficulty in accessing departmental data (Poor record keeping by department)

36. Ineffective generation and utilization of statistical data

37. Limited technological infrastructure

38. Poor tourism infrastructure

39. Low application of technology by farmers leading to low yields.

40. Low levels of private sector investment in aqua culture

42. Over exploitation of fisheries resources leading to low catch.

43. Pollution of the water through dumping of solid and liquid waste

KEY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITISES

Introduction

This Chapter presents the identified key development priorities emanating from the key issues and problems collated during the review of the performance under Chapter one. The identified issues are harmonized with the community needs and aspirations gathered from community engagement and scored in order to examine their relationship and relevance.

A factor considered in this prioritization process includes;

The severity and diversity of the problem and the intended benefits of the need (social, economic, environmental and cultural etc.)

The significant multiplier effect on economic efficiency (e.g. attraction of investors, job creation, increase in income and growth).

The significant linkages effect on meeting basic human needs and rights

The significant effects in the sustainable spatial development of designated spaces.

List of Development Gaps/ Challenges/ Problems

1. Inadequate school infrastructure

2. Insufficient supply of textbooks and other learning materials.

3. Lack of maintenance of school infrastructure

4. Inadequate health infrastructure

5. Inadequate Staff

6. Limited supply of personal protective equipment

7. Inadequate and inequitable distribution of critical staff mix

8. Poor Attitude of Citizenry towards the Environmental sanitation and hygiene

9. High prevalence of open defecation

10. Poor drainage systems

11. Weak enforcement of environmental laws and regulations

12. Environmental Pollution

13. Inadequate water supply

14. Increasing Child Rights Violation

15. Limited awareness on Child Rights and Development issues

16. Inadequate alternative care services

17. Teenage Pregnancy

18. Low participation of females in public and political offices

19. Limited access to credit facilities by women

20. High poverty among vulnerable households including those disabilities

21. High unemployment rate among vulnerable youth

22. Inaccessible public transport for PWDs

23. Inadequate and unfriendly walkways for PWDs as pedestrians

24. High rate of floating drivers in the District despite transport unions being formed.

25. Inadequate funding for the preparation of Spatial Plans

26. Weak capacity of Assembly Members and Unit Committees

27. Limited capacity and opportunities for revenue mobilization

28. Revenue underperformance due to leakages and loopholes

29. Implementation of unplanned expenditures

30. Poor police visibility

31. Seasonal flooding

32. Limited technological infrastructure

33. Poor tourism infrastructure

34. High Cost of farm inputs by farmers leading to low yields.

35. Low levels of private sector investment.

36. Over exploitation of fisheries resources leading to low catch.

37. Pollution of the water through dumping of solid and liquid waste by people.

LIST COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS

Drains

Public schools

Health facilities

Improved Roads

Police Posts

Streets lights

Library

School computers

Windows and fans in schools

De-silting of drains

Bridge

Clearing of walkways

Enforcement of sanitation bye- laws

Public toilets

Markets

Government credit facilities

Extension of pipe for water supply

Support PWDs

Skills training

Extension of electricity to new places

 LIST COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS

Drains

Public schools

Health facilities

Improved Roads

Police Posts

Streets lights

Library

School computers

Windows and fans in schools

De-silting of drains

Bridge

Clearing of walkways

Enforcement of sanitation bye- laws

Public toilets

Markets

Government credit facilities

Extension of pipe for water supply

Support PWDs

Skills training

Extension of electricity to new places

Street naming

Spatial Planning

Impact Analysis

The impacts of the issues that are considered as priorities of the District from the POCC analysis were examined using criteria that involve crosscutting development components. This is done to ascertain the degree of influence or effect of the prioritized issues when achieved will have on these key components of development.

This is done to ascertain the influence or effect of the prioritized issues on the key components of development. The table below shows the impact analysis of the District prioritized issues.

Scores were attached based on the level of impact each issue had with the components for the impact analysis. The table below shows the scoring criteria and the level of impact.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTIONS, GOALS, SUB-GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND
STRATEGIES

 Introduction

This chapter gives view and expected dynamics of the population and its variables and contains analysis of the development indicators and projections for the future developments in the District.

Demographic Structure

The population of the Central Tongu District Assembly has been growing steadily since 2010 with its growth rate (3.5%) higher than regional and national growth rate of 2.5% and projections show an increasing trend for the next four years, all other things been equal.

Age-Sex Structure

The age-sex distribution of population in the year 2010 shows that 53.2% of the population was female whilst the male population makes up 46.8%. This clearly indicates that there are more females than males.

The 0-14 age group constitutes 38.7% of the population. This has important implications for development in that considering the total number of the population in this age group; provision would have to be made for infrastructure such as educational facilities, health facilities and recreational facilities to cater for them.

The population in the 65 years and above age group makes up 7.3% of the population. These two age groups combined make up the dependent population of the District and form 46% of the total population.

Population Projections

The result of the population projection as indicated in the Table 3.1 below shows that the projected
population of 100,075 in the year 2020 increases to 103,578 by the year 2022, and will further increase by the year 2025.

Implications Population Projection

The District may have limited space for future land use and developmental activities. All lands
planned for public parks and entertainments are been encroached upon most especially in the district capital and the big towns.

The demographic trends can have the following implications:

There would be pressure on housing, social infrastructure and services, (i.e. education, health, water, sanitation, housing and roads).

Appropriate job creation interventions will be instituted by the District to create employment for the growing population, maintain those who are already employed.

There is a need to build on sport strengths in the District for changing population.

There is a need to provide inclusive services; promote equal opportunities; oppose discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage through reducing inequalities and promoting community cohesion.

Strategic Development proposals

Inviting private investors through adverts and other public fora to invest in the area markets and animal rearing.

To engage the Department of Agriculture to initiate planting of trees in the District.

Enforce environmental laws by prosecuting anyone found dumping of refuse any form of waste in the District.

Central Tongu should collaborate with the private sector to:

Construct a modern tourist infrastructure.

Promote institutional and human resource capacity building in tourism industry to promote a good image of the District.

To improve the environment

Control unauthorized development

Promote the development of LED

Private Sector Development

The private sector in said to be the engine of growth. However, industrial activity is very low in the District. Some of these industrial activities are micro and small-scaled using rudimentary technology.

Implication for development

Disparities in employment levels between zones may continue to widen.

Opportunities for new businesses may not arise, preventing an increase in employment and demand for higher educated employees.

To promote industrial activity in the District, the following interventions should be implemented:

Assist micro/small scale industries schemes to expand and use more modern methods of production.

The District has a fishing/coastal economy; hence fish-processing/small scale-business should be encouraged. The DA can do this by making available the necessary and requisite infrastructure/environment, which would encourage local people to invest in the industrial sector.

Educate and build the capacity of entrepreneurs

Introduce entrepreneurial development in school training curricular

Provide more support for business start-ups.

Projection of Levels of food production

As a result of the anticipated increase in the population of the District as depicted by the demographic projections, it is necessary to assess the future food situation in the District. Based on the estimated population and the current production situation the following assumptions were made:

1. The District growth rates for the various crops would remain constant throughout the plan period.

3. There will be an increase and efficient extension service to farmers.

4. There will be efficient marketing channels.

Figure 4 shows the estimated crop production levels in the District in metric tons.
Projections arebased on the current levels of production which are assumed to remain constant throughout the plan period.

Implication for Development

• Increase in population figures will result in increased in demand for food.

• There will be an influx of traders from neighboring District and towns and this will result in high  food price Strategies;
To increase its food production, the current agricultural practices would have to be modernized.

• Instead of small land holding cropping, farmers within Central Tongu will be introduced and encouraged to adopt vertical urban modernized farming with improved systems and house to house

extension services.
• Assist fishermen to implement modern fishing techniques and methods to improve their catch.

• Encourage the development of agro-processing industries

Within the period of the MTDP 2022-2025, the District will embark on improving on the existing infrastructure. The District Assembly will rehabilitate existing roads and construct additional length of roads to link all communities in order to facilitate easy transportation both within and outside the District.

Health

Per the projections, the population of Central Tongu will increase from 103,578 in 2021 to 149,209 in 2025. By the guidelines for the standard provisions of health facilities, for every 75,000 persons, there should be additional CHPS Compound.

Implication for Development

• There will be additional strain placed on the few health care resources due to the continual growth of the population over 50 and below 5 years.

• Inequalities in health and life expectancy between rich and poor (north and south).

• There will be a need for additional health staff Strategies

• Improve life expectancies through promoting healthy lifestyles for all ages.

• Promote personal and psychological wellbeing. Working to tackle health issues such as malaria, HIV, COVID 19, Typhoid, dementia and obesity, which disproportionately affect those living in poverty
• Improve standard of health and wellbeing by providing standard healthcare facilities and resources for those who live and work in Central Tongu.
The projection on the access to health with its related facilities, based on the distance people will travelled to access the existing facilities and th0se that will be built during 2022-2025 is represented in the diagram below:

Education

As a result of Government policies such as Free Education and School Feeding Programme has greatly improved enrolment. The COVID-19 has actually affected the enrolment in school because of absenteeism of students during the period and enrolment has started increasing in the year 2021 in both basic and second cycle level.

School participating rate- SPR/projection of enrolment

The school Participating Rate (SPR) refers to the children within the school-going age who are currently in school. From the projections, there is a high indication that, based on the increase in the enrolment data available at the primary level as in 2020, the greater percentage of children within the school-going age are in school by the end of the plan period and hence, by implications, the persistent increase will bring about high literacy level and the need to plan for their needs.

The projection of educational facilities needed for the various levels of education within the

District (Public and Private) ranging from K.G to SHS is attach to the Annex of this plan.

Gross Enrolment Rate which referred to the total enrolment regardless of age, expressed as a percentage whilst Net Enrolment Rate refers to the number of boys and girls of the age of a particular level of education that are enrolled in that level of education expressed as a percentage of the total population and Gender Parity Index refers to the relative access to education of males and females.

Percentage of Trained Teachers (Public and Private)

The Table below shows the percentage of trained teachers in both public and private schools within the district for the plan period.


Pupil Classroom Ratio (PCR)

The figure shows the number of teachers needed per a class and the number of classrooms needed

per a class all expressed in percentage for the plan period using the 1: 45 teacher to pupil ratio as a guide.

Projections for BECE and WASSCE Pass Rate

The figure shows the pass rate of both males and females at Basic Level (BECE) and Senior High
Level (WASSCE) within the District for the plan period

Transport

Data gathered by the Statistical Service during 2020 PHC indicated that, there is a high percentage of motorbike ownership supporting the few available cars as the main source of transport within the District. As a result, the continuous increase in population this will automatically increase motorbikes usage during the coming years since the indigenes sees it as the only affordable means of transport. Implication for development.

The continuous increase in the use of motorbikes and cars will result in environmental pollution in the future It will further result in deterioration of the existing road infrastructure (thus vehicular movement). Strategies

The increase in motorbike usage especially has resulted in so many casualties, so there is the need to provide road safety measures to help reduce and or curb such casualties

Population increase demands infrastructure to support it, so adequate measures needed to be in place to help address infrastructural needs of the population.

New roads needed to be constructed and also more public transport systems needed to help solve most of the casualties caused especially as a result of motorbike usage.

Crime and Security

As population of the youth increases, there will be the continued increase in crime if unemployment continues to rise. The District can only boost of 1 police station with 27 Police officers of which 23 are females while 4 are males to protect the people of Central Tongu. The UN approved standard for police to citizen ratio is 1:500. However, the police to citizen ratio in the country is 1:836 and for a population that is projected to increase 149,209 by 2025, the police to citizen ratio will increase thus more Policemen will have to be recruited to meet the National standard of 1:836. Hence police citizen ratio will increase thus more police men needed to be recruited to help deal with crimes.

Implications for development

Increase in crimes will result in less investment since no investor will agree to invest in crime prone areas thereby reducing employment.

Increase in armed robbery, fraud, violence and petty crimes.Strategies Providing the police service with the needed infrastructure, equipment and staffing to help combat crime and its related issues in the district.

Periodic capacity building should be organized to help develop the police force and incentives to anyone who report crimes as well as encourage education and sensitization for the populace.

Water and Sanitation

Water

Increase in population will require increase in demand for water facilities.
The people of Central Tongu rely on water from CWSA, Roman Catholic, Rivers, Streams, Ponds and Dams.

Implications for development

Increase in demand requires increase in water supply thereby creating irregular supply
The increase in demand requires increase connection to the local grid thereby causing destruction of some conduits.

Sanitation

As the population continue to increase generally, there will ultimately be an increase in the amount of waste generated within the district and the nation as a whole. The District can boost of ZOOMLION as the main company in charge of refuse collections and disposal of solid waste whilst those in the hinterlands do gather, collect, bury and or burn the solid waste they generate.

There are very few public toilets, VIPs, Pit Latrine and most households either do open defecation which is not the best. It is advised that all households should provide their own toilet facilities.

Strategies

Households are encouraged to construct their own toilets and to avoid indiscriminate waste water disposal
The use of modern technology to dispose waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
Maintenance of existing public toilets to ensure their sustainability.
Implication in development
Improper disposal of waste over the years will result in choke of drains within the district.

It will also cause environmental pollution thereby resulting in outbreak of communicable diseases.

Climate Change

The principles and purposes for planning and sustainable development for every District is to follow the guidelines provided by the NDPC. It tends to promote growth in economic, environmental and social progress for the current and future generation. It further set principles to which every district plan shall be provided thereby contributing to achievement of sustainable development goals.

It unearthsrole of every community in ensuring that the energy and green house problems of Ghana is reduced or solved are all enshrined in these principles and guidelines.

There are two main rainy season within the District which is highly unpredictable due to climate change. There are two major dams (Kpong and Akosombo) which influenced the ecology of the

District. For example: No deposition of silt on the flood plains to improve soil fertility due to the cessation of the annual flooding of the Volta and the situation created by the dam at the lower

Volta and the presence of riverweeds has caused extinction of oyster and destruction of the fishing industry.

The Medium Term Development Plan of the District seeks to identify areas of great concern that will and or pose environmental problems and the need for the DPCU to plan accordingly to help rectify these threats of climate change. However, the topography of the land results in seasonal flooding of some parts of the District.

This situation leads to sizeable areas of the District becoming marshy, which is suitable for rice production and other swampy dependent crops.

Implications on development

Increased population will lead to rapid urbanization which leads to deterioration of land causing climate change Increasing fumes from increasing vehicles affects the atmosphere and the quality of air.

Increased population and urbanization will mean increase in industrialization and the damage of the environment cover

Strategies

Promotion of flood resistance and resilience to any property along flood prone areas.
Drainage management strategies to be in place to help control especially the weed in the water bodies to ensure sustainability of aquatic lives.

Provision deposition of silt on the flood plains to improve soil fertility

Culture and Tourism

Culture and tourism play a significant role in the development of every community. The tourism sector is one of the key contributors of income to the country. It is very important to consider culture and tourism when planning with the people.

There are several tourist sites within the district that are underdeveloped. For example, Mafi-Avakpedome range is a great tourist site which when tapped will help generated income for the District. Likewise, Siame and Awadiwoe Islands which are within the District just to mention a few.

Implications on development
Income generation means for the District
It helps preserve the culture of the District for the unborn generation

Strategies
Public Private Partnership to help develop identified and potential tourist sites
Rebranding of culture to help promote cultural heritage and tourism within the district.

Adoption of Objectives and Strategies
This section deals with the adoption of Objectives and their Strategies that will help develop the Central Tongu District.

The development framework seeks to integrate, social, economic, physical as well as political issues that will aim at addressing the overall human needs of the District and to help foster the entire development agenda of the Nation.

The various development objectives and strategies outlined for the district is in tandem with the POCC Analysis of the district to help develop a comprehensive Medium Term Development Plan for the District.

Adopted Goals and Issues of SMTDP of MDAs

The table below represents the goal and its alignment with the various development issues with the National Medium Term Policy Framework that have influence on the District Medium Term Development Plan.