Location /Distribution of Services and Infrastructure

A study of spatial location and distribution of service; and their inter-linkages in the district was carried out with the aid of the scalogram analysis. The scalogram shows the analysis of the distribution of functions/services.  The scalogram is non-qualitative. It only indicates the presence of facilities in each settlement in order to guide development decision-making related to the choice of project location. The scalogram, which is a matrix showing selected settlements and the respective functions they perform in a district, provides an in-depth knowledge about the adequacy and variety of functions performed by each of the selected settlements. 

It also helps in the determination of hierarchy of settlements and the nature of spatial integration they exhibit in the district. The tool also helps in determining the hierarchy of settlements and the nature of spatial integration they exhibit in a district.  To identify the presence or absence of services and facilities within the district, the settlement functional matrix (scalogram) was used.  By this, the settlements were ranked based on different types of facilities in the settlement.

The settlements were ranked in a hierarchy based on the variety of the aforementioned services in the scalogram.  Anyinam has the highest number of services in the district.  It is necessary that the district focuses on equitable spatial development.

For the analysis, 23 settlements (representing communities with population 800 and above people were used. Thirty (34) services and facilities, under education, health, water; energy, post and telecommunication, finance, agriculture, etc sectors, were identified and considered as shown in the matrix is shown in above scalogram. Based on the variety and level of the aforementioned services in the scalogram, settlements were ranked in a hierarchy. Hierarchy one (1) has the highest number of services in the district, totaling   18 to 28 out of 34 facilities considered. A centrality index was calculated from the scalogram for all the 37 settlements, and four communities that fall within the first hierarchy have access to 18 to 28 facilities and services out of 34 considered. The third hierarchy has between 13 to 15 of the facilities and services and the fifth and last hierarchy has 3 to 10 of the services and facilities   Anyinam has the highest   centrality index of 28 followed by Kwabeng had a centrality index of only 26. 

The analysis revealed that even though there is a linkage between population concentration and distribution of services, some settlements with higher population lacked certain facilities.  However, some of the settlements are not far from settlements where the facilities and services they lacked are located. The district must make efforts to provide services and facilities in areas where they are not currently available even though the population threshold of some of the settlements does not qualified for provision of certain socio-economic infrastructure.

   Information and communication Technology

There are three (3) post offices in the district. These are located at Kwabeng, Abomosu and Anyinam. The District is serviced the direct line telephone services provide by Vodaphone Ghana.  All other mobile telephone services such as MTN, Tigo, Kasapa, Zain and Vodafone are also available in most parts of the district. 

The District has no FM radio station; however, signals of most FM stations located in Koforidua, Nkawkaw and Accra are received in most parts of the District. Signals from GTV, TV3, TV Africa, Multi TV and Metro TV are also available in most parts of the district. There are also 5 internet cafes located at at Anyinam. There is also Community Information Centre at Kwabeng and Anyinam. These facilities provide important means through which information and feedbacks can be obtained for effective development of the district. Efforts must therefore be made to ensure that the communication service providers improve and sustain the quality of the services.

The computer literacy rate in the district is relative high especially among the youth and the students. Under the Government free laptop project, 264 laptops had been distributed to 11 schools in the districts. There is hope that more will be distributed during the plan period to enhance the ICT education among basic school students. District Assembly is also intends to connect electricity to some schools in the district without electricity to enhance ICT education

Communication Strategies

The Decentralised Planning System was introduced to enhance grassroots participation in the development planning process as well as implementation of proposed programmes and projects at the local level. One of the strategies to win the support of all stakeholders in the implementation processes is efficient and effective communication of the provision in the medium term development plan (MTDP).

There are many agencies and institutions including the private sector that are prepared to support and fund some proposed projects and programmes in the plan provide they meet their social corporate responsibility principles. It is therefore important to share the content of the DMTDP agencies/stakeholders really understand the rational and the potential benefits of the proposed interventions. The communication strategy of the DMTDP (2014-2017) is therefore underpinned by the above premises.

Dissemination of the MTDP & Annual Progress Report

The first final draft of the MTDP (2014-2017) was be disseminated to stakeholders at a public hearing and introduced the proposed intervention to address the problems to them  and sought their  recommendations to finalize the plan. The participants at the public hearing including but not limited to the following: Heads of Decentralised Department/Agencies, Assembly members, Area Councils Religious Authorities, Business Community, Civil Society Organisations, Traditional Authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations, RPCU, and Physically Challenged People, trade association etc.

The role of the various stakeholders in the implementation of the proposed projects and programmes should be thoroughly discussed during the dissemination meetings. This will provide direction, sense of purpose and ownership among the stakeholders. Copies of the plan will be distributed to all decentralised departments and other key stakeholders including the District Assembly Area Councils

During the implementation of the plan, there would be annual assessment of the progress made. The annual progress report would be disseminated at stakeholders meeting of whom the above mentioned stakeholders would be invited. Other activities in the communication strategy is presented in the below matrix

Funding of Development Projects/Programmes

The Assembly will hold special fund raising sessions with the Religious Bodies and some private sector institutions to assist in the funding some of the proposed programmes and projects in the plan. The potential benefits to these institutions as well as the general benefit to the larger society will be highlighted. Joint partnership arrangement for the implementation of the business related projects will also be explored.