The meeting, held at the Municipal Assembly Hall in Bechem, was attended by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South, Hon. Charles Asiedu; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong; Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Abdul Rahman Salam; Presiding Member, Hon. Isaac Kusi Amponsah; traditional authorities; representatives of the security services; heads of departments and Assembly Members.

In his welcome address, the Presiding Member, Hon. Isaac Kusi Amponsah, thanked members for their cooperation and assured former Assembly Members that their outstanding ex-gratia payments would be made after the meeting.

He announced that the Assembly had taken delivery of 1,000 exercise books from the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) for distribution to basic schools in the Municipality to support teaching and learning.

He further indicated that NALAG was actively pursuing the procurement of motorbikes for Assembly Members, adding that if satisfactory progress was not made by the end of September 2026, an emergency meeting would be convened to address the matter.

Hon. Amponsah commended members for their efforts to improve revenue mobilisation and urged them to intensify their efforts within their respective Zonal Councils to sustain the gains made as the year draws to a close.

He disclosed that the first-quarter allowances for Assembly Members had been paid, while the Ministry of Local Government had released funds for the second, third and fourth quarters to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department for processing.

He also announced that the Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Yaw Ofosu Amoateng, which was tasked to investigate petitions against the management of Bechem Technical Institute, had submitted its report for consideration.

Hon. Amponsah concluded by urging members to put aside partisan politics and commit themselves to the Assembly’s motto, “Unity, Excellence and Development,” to ensure fruitful deliberations.

Addressing the House, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong, extended greetings from President John Dramani Mahama and expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Asiwoobur Osei Bonsu III, for gracing the previous meeting.

He delivered a comprehensive address on the state of the Municipality, highlighting achievements and ongoing development initiatives across various sectors.

On security, Hon. Frimpong said the Municipality remained relatively calm, apart from isolated cases of petty theft and drug peddling. He, however, expressed concern over the emergence of illegal mining, noting that the Municipality had previously been free from the menace.

He assured the House that the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) would work closely with relevant stakeholders to address the situation.

He further disclosed that 28 recruits from Tano South were commissioned as Blue Water Guards at Breme on July 15, 2026, to help protect the country's water bodies.

On the financial performance of the Assembly, Hon. Frimpong reported that between January and June 2026, total revenue from all funding sources stood at 25 per cent, representing GH¢14.1 million out of a budgeted GH¢56.3 million.

He said the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF) recorded a performance of 68 per cent, while expenditure stood at 22 per cent of the total budget.

Touching on agriculture, the MCE said work on the Poultry and Meat Processing Factory at Bechem was progressing steadily.

He announced that Tano South had been selected to benefit from the **HAPPY Project**, which seeks to improve agricultural productivity and create employment opportunities for the youth, with the Municipality focusing on tomato production.

He disclosed that 1,500 bags of fertiliser and 204 sachets of seeds had been distributed to farmers under the Feed Ghana Programme. Selected farmers had also been trained as Plant Doctors in collaboration with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

On local economic development, he said preparations were far advanced for the construction of a 24-hour economy market. He explained that market women would be relocated to pave the way for the project, with a sod-cutting ceremony expected to be held soon.

On roads, Hon. Frimpong informed the House that the Assembly, with support from the Member of Parliament, had reshaped the Mansin-Garikrom feeder road, which had deteriorated due to poor conditions.

He attributed some of the challenges affecting road maintenance to budgetary constraints that had affected the operation of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment.

On education, he said the Assembly had supplied 429 dual desks, 140 hexagonal desks, and 60 teachers’ tables and chairs from its 2025 District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

He added that the Assembly had commenced the procurement of 789 mono desks and 50 hexagonal desks for 2026.

He further disclosed that three-unit and six-unit classroom blocks had been constructed at New Brosankro and Techimantia Saviour School, as well as Bechem SDA School, while kindergarten blocks had also been constructed at Tuagyankrom and Subriso.

Hon. Frimpong said the Assembly had supported the Municipality to secure second place at the Inter-District Cultural Festival and reach the quarter-finals of the Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge.

He also disclosed that plans were far advanced to convert the Derma Community Day Senior High School into a boarding school.

On health, Hon. Frimpong announced that Tano South had emerged as the best-performing Municipality in the Ahafo Region in health delivery, while the Ahafo Region had been ranked first nationally.

He commended Dr. Joel Duah Afi and health workers in the Municipality for their dedication and hard work.

He disclosed that the CHPS compound at Derma Kofintamkrom was 100 per cent complete, while procurement for the Ankaase CHPS compound had been completed.

He added that work on the Out-Patient Department (OPD) and Administration Block at the Bechem Government Hospital was ongoing, while the Member of Parliament was funding the construction of CHPS compounds at Tweapease and Old Brosankro.

He further announced that a Nurses’ Training College had been sited at Techimantia, with the contractor already on site.

According to him, Tano South had also been selected to pilot the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, with containerised health booths expected to be mounted at Bechem and Techimantia.

The MCE also disclosed that the MP had serviced the only functional ambulance in the Ahafo Region and was funding two additional ambulances for the new ambulance stations at Techimantia and Derma.

Touching on support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Hon. Frimpong said the Assembly had distributed various items to 74 beneficiaries to support their livelihoods.

The items included 16 refrigerators, 24 deep freezers, fufu-pounding machines, wheelchairs, laptops and a spraying machine.

The Member of Parliament for Tano South, Hon. Charles Asiedu, in his address, briefed the Assembly on how his statutory funds had been utilised to support development in the Municipality.

He explained that GH¢30,000 from the Health Fund had been allocated for the purchase of basic medical items for the Municipal Health Directorate.

He added that funds had also been secured for the construction of a shed for the Mansin Weighing Centre, the Breman CHPS Compound Weighing Shed and a new Brosankro Weighing Shed.

Funds had also been secured for the renovation of the Subriso Weighing Centre, as well as works at the Tweapease CHPS Compound.

Hon. Asiedu clarified that the procurement of two ambulances for the Municipality was fully funded from his personal resources.

On community and educational infrastructure, he explained that an expansion programme was being implemented under a cost-sharing arrangement, with the Central Government bearing 50 per cent of the cost and the Assembly contributing the remaining 50 per cent.

He said 28 communities had been captured under the initiative, with 18 already granted approval and 10 awaiting approval.

He further disclosed that the MP’s Common Fund had been used to furnish the Quality Control Office to enable it to commence operations.

Hon. Asiedu also stated that every school in the Municipality, from primary through Junior High School (JHS) to Senior High School (SHS), received at least one set of sports jerseys in the previous year through the MP’s Common Fund to help address challenges faced by schools during inter-school competitions.

He said 18 constituents had also been supported to gain admission to tertiary institutions, including eight who gained admission to nursing training colleges and 10 to colleges of education.

On academic excellence and student support, Hon. Frimpong announced that the Best BECE Student Award, instituted the previous year, had provided GH¢10,000 to top-performing students.

He said the initiative would be expanded to support students from deprived communities with educational materials and further motivate them to excel academically.

Touching on youth employment, he disclosed that a number of constituents had been assisted in securing employment in various government institutions.