Prioritization of Identified Issues

Community needs and aspirations issues were solicited from a team’s interaction with the seven (7) Area and Town Councils.
Some of the identified needs and aspirations include;

Rehabilitation of  schools

Construction of new school structures

Police post

Potable water

Area Council block

Market stalls

Extension of electricity

Police post

Roads

Teachers quarters

Toilet facilities

Health centres

Bridges

Staff residential accommodation

The aforementioned community needs and issues have been subjected through the a prioritization process that took consideration of the following; 

i.   Multiplier Effect

With the provision of essential social infrastructure like potable water to providing drinking water, it also reduces the incidence of water borne diseases.

ii. Widespread Effect

Community needs were selected on the basis of the number of people it serves. For instance the construction of feeder roads would certainly open up all the communities in order to enhance economic activities.  The roads were selected, therefore to taking into consideration the number of communities they serve and the impact it would have on the masses.

iii. Linkage Effect

The reshaping and rehabilitation of roads will facilitate good linkage among communities on the same stretch of road.  Similarly foodstuffs can also be conveniently transported from the hinterland to Tepa for sale, thereby raising the financial position

Conclusion

From the prioritization of the communities needs and aspirations provision of potable water emerged as the number one followed by reshaping of road, construction of school block etc. Construction of semi-detached staff quarters was the least ranked indicating that the district places the least priority on the construction of Assembly staff quarters.

 Vulnerability Analysis

 A brief description of what has been mentioned elsewhere

Children in Difficult Circumstances: - Hernia Operation on his son whom he (the father) had neglected.  The case was reported to CHRAJ by the mother on 10 – 03 – 2006.

Father’s refusal to pay ward’s school fees: - The father paid all outstanding bills to enable complainant write her final exams.  The complainant was Mavis Amonyo of Subriso.  Report was made on 03 – 12 – 2002.

Forced Marriage: - Five (5) cases were reported to CHRAJ (2002 - 2005).  The marriage ceremonies were cancelled.  Two of the victims went back to school.

Child Maintenance (2002 – 2006): - 140 complaints were lodged by women/mothers about their husband’s refusal to take care of the children.  Some were divorced while others were still married.  The fathers were invited to the CHRAJ office and made to pay monthly remittance between ¢150,000.00 and ¢300,000.00 to the office and later given to the complainants.

Spouse Maintenance (2002 - 2006): - 35 complainants were lodged by women.  Husbands were made to remit their wives monthly after settlement at the office.  Monthly remittance range between ¢150,000.00 and ¢200,000.00

Child labour: - The use of children including school children to work on farms, sell goods on the streets and in the markets are common in the district.  This is attributed to parental neglect, divorce, single mothers and poverty on the part of some parents.  Some of the children are orphans who are staying with their grandmothers who cannot provide their basic needs. Most of the victims are girls.

Child Poverty: - Some of the children in the district especially those in the rural communities are deprived of their basic needs like proper feeding, good health care etc.  The District Education office has embarked on series of sensitization programmes to educate parents/stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities for better living.  In the year 2003 and 2004, the Ahafo Ano North District Assembly in collaboration with ISODEC and District Education office organized skills Training Workshop for Girl-child Scholarship Beneficiaries Parents’ Association at Dwaaho and Tepa.  Participants were trained on the preparation of Pomade, Powder and Soap making as income generating ventures which could help them give the necessary support to their children.  However, this could not be sustained due to lack of financial support for the parents who were mostly mothers.

Children in Conflict with the Law: - All such cases and other family affairs are referred to the District Magistrate court at Mankranso or Ashanti New Town in Kumasi.  This is because the Circuit Court at Tepa has no Magistrate to handle such cases

Way Forward

The CHRAJ Office realized that most people/parents are uninformed about the children’s Act, Act 560 and has therefore drawn a comprehensive educational programme to educate all the communities in the district.

Victims of Abuse

Abduction (Tepa): In June 2006, the report was made by the girl’s mother and the boy (culprit) was jailed 2 years.  The 16 year old girl is continuing her school at Tweneboah Kodua Secondary School at Kumawu.

Defilement (Tepa): Two cases were recorded at Tepa.  In one of the cases, the man (culprit) was discharged due to lack of evidence.

Rape:  Three (3) cases were recorded at Tepa Circuit Court from January to July 2006.  In one of the cases, the man was jailed 20 years.  One is still before the court.

Assault:  Thirty-seven (37) cases were recorded from January to June 2006.  The cases involved marriage coupled and individuals.  The culprits were fined and compensation given to the victims who were mostly women.

Persons with Disabilities

Disable people (children and adults) identified in the district include visually and hearing impaired, mentally retarded and physically handicapped.  A total of about 320 disabled pupils/students have been identified in the various schools in the district.  The disabilities have led to their low performance in school as well as inability to participate in some school activities such as games, debates, competitions, marching etc.

Example, a physically challenged teacher in one of the primary schools is unable to attend school wherever it rains for fear he might slip and fall.  There are no safety measures for such people in the District. In 2005, the Peripatetic Officer at the District Education screened those in school and referred them to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) – Kumasi, Bechem and Tepa Government Hospitals respectively for the necessary medical intervention.  Follow-up visits to the schools indicated that some of the pupil/students have been given the necessary medical treatment e.g. provision of medicated lens, ear and eye drops.  Some parents/guardians could not send their wards to the hospital due to poverty.  Some resorted to the use of herbs for local treatment which sometimes worsens the problem e.g. a KG girl at Achina D/A Primary School.

Parents/Guardians have been counselled to send their wards to hospitals regularly for medical intervention, involve them in household chores, give them daily living skills, e.g. bathing, sweeping etc, provide basic social needs and ensure that they attend school regularly.  Parents were also advised to avoid the application of local herbs which could lead to various complications.  Most of the adults depend on other relatives for survival because they have not been given any skill training to cater for them.

Special Programmes for the Vulnerable and Excluded
The issue of vulnerability and excluded is of grave concern due to literacy, ignorance and low access to information among the majority of the people.  Those in the category are women, the physically impaired, orphans, widows and children.
The Assembly is tackling these problems of vulnerability through the following interventions:

Provision of Training facilities for entrepreneurial and vocational skills development.

Embarking on public education campaign on the rights and responsibilities of the vulnerable and excluded.

People in Disaster Prone Areas

The following have been identified as disaster prone areas:
a)  Bush Fires
Tepa – Anyinasuso road (all the communities along the road)
Abonsuaso – Yaw Tabi – Nyameadom area
Tepa – Brosankro
Tepa – Subonpan

Causes of the fires are mainly due to the activities of hunters, farmers, palm-wine tappers, cigarette smokers etc.  Others are as a result of the severe heat from the sun especially during the dry season. 

As a result of the outbreak of bushfires, vast farm lands are destroyed leading to low productivity of both food and cash crops.  Some electric poles are also burnt cutting off electrical supply for commercial and domestic activities.  

People who are affected become poor and unable to cater for their children’s basic needs.  Some cases recorded are as follows: -
11 – 01 – 2006 – King Jesus International School area.
05 – 02 – 2006 – Tepa Secondary School
03 – 04 – 2006 – Mabang

Domestic fires

Areas mostly affected are Mabang, Tepa, and Manfo.  Some of the causes are electrical faults (e.g. old electrical wires, too much load on electrical gadgets, unattended heaters) and accidental.  This leads to the destruction of houses and properties.  People affected find it difficult to regain lost properties.  Some families are forced to stay with relatives under harsh conditions while most of their children especially girls are given as house helps to other people.  This exposes the girls to child labour, rape and other forms of sexual harassment.

Some cases recorded this year are as follows: - 
21 – 01 – 2006    A house at Tepa Zongo
02 – 02 – 2006    Tepa Saviour Church Mission
07 – 02 – 2006    A house at Manfo
09 – 03 – 2006    Tepa Police Barracks
28 – 04 – 2006    A house at Mabang
08 – 05 – 2006    Tepa PROTOA Kiosk
11 – 05 – 2006    Tepa VRA Transformer

 Rainstorm

All towns in the District are often affected.  Seventy-seven (77) cases involving 100 victims were recorded from January to June 2006.  The worst affected area was Akwasiase.  Roofs of houses were ripped off and properties destroyed.  As a result, most people become homeless and non-productive.

Causes  

Deforestation (illegal timber lumbering, activities of chain saw operators).  No protective cover to serve as wind breaks for the houses.  The forest continues to be cleared at an alarming pace and there is no management plan for the protection of the forest products on sustainable basis.

Sand winning destroys the environment and contributes to rainstorm disasters (e.g. Tepa, Bonkrom, and Kruboa).
Flood at Anyinasuso is a threat to the community members especially the school children and the Health Centre.  Even though the water has been drained, any future occurrence will be disastrous.

Relief for victims of Rainstorm and Fire outbreaks: -

Emergency response e.g. provision of mattresses, second hand clothes

Re-settlement e.g. tents, cement and lumber for re-building

Provision of food items e.g. rice, oil etc.

However, provisions of these items are inadequate.

Formation of Fire Volunteers    

The District Fire Service had trained fire volunteers at the various communities to help combat fire outbreaks.  They have also been able to educate the people on how to set fire when they are making their farms.  They work in collaboration with NADMO.