Goals and Objectives

The District Medium Term Development Plan under the Growth nd Poverty Reduction Strategy II )2006-2009) comprehensive policies to support growth and poverty reduction over a 3-year period (2006-2009). This falls in line with the government conviction that economy of Ghana needs to be managed effectively and efficiently to enable wealth creation for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Development Focus

Bongo District Assembly aims at creating wealth by transforming the nature of the economy to achieve growth, accelerate poverty reduction and the protection of the vulnerable and excluded within a decentralized and democratic environment.

Mission Statement of Bongo District Assembly

The Bongo District Assembly exists to improve upon the lives of its people through the creation of enable environment, harnessing of its resources, proper co-ordination and integration of activities in the district within the framework of national policies.
 
Goal

To Increase Agricultural Production through the adoption of improved and recommended technologies.

Objective

To facilitate the adoption of appropriate technologies by farmers to increase crop production by 20% annually

Activities

• Organize training for 10,000 farmers on preparation and use of organic manure annually
• Organize training for 10,000 farmers on water and soil conservation techniques annually
• Organize training for 10,000 farmers on improved cultural practices for arable crops annually
• Organize training session for WUA members on irrigated agriculture annually
• Organize training for 10,000 farmers on early detection and control of disease   . and pests annually
• Organize training for 50 farmers on integrated crop/pests management annually
• Establish 40 on-farm demonstration on various cropping technologies annually
• Organize training for 20 Farmer Based Organization (FBOs) and other groups and link them to Business Development Organisation

Objective 

To facilitate the provision of water sources for irrigation and livestock watering by 2009

Activities

1. Construct one dam annually
2. Rehabilitate 3 dams by 2009
3. Desilt 2 silted annually dams by 2009
4. Provide drip irrigation facilities at five dam sites

Objective 

To facilitate the adoption of appropriate livestock and poultry technologies by farmersto increase production by 20% annually.

Activities

1. Educate 2,000 farmers on the need to immunize their livestock and poultry annually
2. Vaccinate 2,000 cattle, 5,000 small ruminants, 2,000 pigs against anthrax annually
3. Vaccinate 3,000 birds against Newcastle disease annually
4. Vaccinate 1,500 pets against rabies annually
5. Vaccinate 10,000 small ruminants against (PRP) annually
6. Train 2,000 farmers on modernized livestock management practices annually
7. Support 2,000 farmers annually to plant fodder tree species

Objective 

To strengthen the institutional capacity of District Agric Development Unit (DADU)

Activities

• Train 30 staff on appropriate agricultural technology
• Support 2 staff to undertake management training at GIMPA annually
• Train 30 staff on emerging new live stock/poultry disease annually
• Provide sponsorship for 3 staff to undertake Diploma/Degree courses by 2009
• Rehabilitate seven(7) Junior Staff Quarters by 2009

Objective

1. To facilitate the adoption of sound environmental practices Activities
2. Sensitize 1,000 farmers on the hazards of farming close to water bodies
3. Educate     5,000     farmers /opinion leaders on the harmful effects of bush burning annually
4. Establish 200 acre fruit tree plantation by 2009
5. Establish wood lot in 10 communities by 2009
6. Sensitize 10,000 farmers on prevention of soil erosion annually

Objective 

To facilitate the development of the tourism sector in the district by 2009.

Activities

• Develop 3 tourist sites by 2009.
• Upgrade the skills of 100 handicraft producers annually.
• Link all handicraft producer group to external market and credit institutions.
• Construct a resource centre for the physically challenged.

Objective 
To facilitate the acquisition, installation and operation of ICT equipment in the district by 2009.

Activities

1. Facilitate the extension of line phones to all MDAs by 2009.
2. Connect all MDA s to internet service by 2009.
3. Equip and make Community Information Centre operational by 2007.
4. Train ICT specialist to manage the CIC by 2009.

Objective 
To facilitate the acquisition, installation and operation of ICT equipment in the district by the year 2009

Activities

• Facilitate the extension of line phones to all MDAs by 2009.
• Connect all MDAs to internet services.
• Equip and make Community Information Centre operational by 2007.
• Train ICT specialist to manage the CIC by 2007.
• Good Governance
•  

Structure of the Assembly

Located in the upper East Region, the Bongo District Assembly exists to improve upon the lives of its people through the creation of an enabling environment, harnessing of its resources, proper co-ordination and integration of its activities within the framework of national policies.

The Assembly has a total membership of fifty-four (54), seven (7) Area councils and fifty-one (51) unit committees. To promote and ensure efficient and effective performance of its functions, in line with its mission, the Assembly is headed by the District Chief Executive, both politically and administratively and administered under the following units and decentralized departments.

Central  Administration  which,  is  headed  by the  District  Co-ordinating Director, with support from Deputy coordinating director,  officers of the Records Class, Secretarial staff and storekeeper,

Finance Department    

This department is headed by District Finance Officer who is assisted by other Accounts staff.    The unit manages the revenue collection and other financial transactions of the Assembly, (iii)     District Planning 

Co-ordinating Unit 

This unit is manned by District Development planning officer and District Budget Analyst. The Unit prepares the development plans, and programmes of the Assembly and also harmonizes, and co-ordinates the development activities of the decentralized departments and other development partners of the Assembly. The Unit also collects data on retable activities, which serve as inputs into the preparation of Fee Fixing Resolution and the Budget of the Assembly. This Unit is also responsible for monitoring and evaluation of development plans and programmes.

Works Department 

The Unit is headed by the Principal Works Superintendent. The Unit provides technical advice on the Assembly buildings.

Environmental Health Unit -

It is headed by Principal Environmental Health Officer and is responsible for the maintenance of a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all human settlements in the district.
(vi) Local Government Inspectorate- Headed by an Assistant Local Government Inspector and charged with the responsibility of examining payment Vouchers and advising on their appropriateness or otherwise. The Unit also examines Revenue collectors Cash Books and Receipts.

Decetralized Departments

The following decentralized departments are present and functioning in the district.

(1)    District Agricultural Development Unit
(2)    Ghana Education Service
(3)    Department of Social Welfare and Community Development
(4)    Department of Town and County planning
(5)    Information Service Department
(6)    Public works Department
(7)    Department of Births and Deaths
(8)    Statistical Service Department.

Sub-District Structures

The operationalization of the Area Councils continuous to be a major concern for the Assembly. In its determination to get the Councils functioning, a secretary and a night watchman were recruited by the Assembly for each of the seven Area Councils in the district.

Besides this, the secretaries and the Councilors were given orientation on the roles and responsibilities, district planning system and budgeting and the principles of team building and team work. The training was organized with financial support from World Vision, Bongo ADP.

The Assembly again with technical assistance from Government Accountability and Improves Trust (GAIT) organized three day training for the Area Council Members on revenue mobilization.
With logistics support from the Central Administration, it is believed the substructures will be well equipped to perform their mandatory roles.

In the face of financial constraints as a result of low internally generated funds, the two staff are being paid allowances, it is however hoped that this recruitment would go a long way to deepen the decentralization process as well as bring an improvement in the revenue generation of the Assembly.

Functiond of the Assembly

Like all other District Assemblies in Ghana, Bongo District Assembly performs executive, deliberative and legislative functions. However, in specific terms it performs the following functions;

Preparation and Submission to government through Regional co-ordinating council for approval, the development plan and budgets for the district.

Formulation of programs and strategies for effective revenue mobilization and utilization of human, physical, financial and other resources in the district.

Promotion and provision of support for productive activity and social development in the district as well as creation of enabling environment for initiatives and development.

Dictation of programme to develop basic infrastructure in the area of education, roads etc as well as provide principal works and services in the entire district. Development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment in the district. Maintenance of security and public safety in the district in collaboration with the security services in the district.

Provision of ready access to courts in the district for the promotion of justices, Initiate, finance or carry out studies that may be necessary for the discharge of functions conferred on the Assembly by law or any other enactment.