With nostalgic feelings and tears of joy all over my cheeks I write this. The number of letters that have been written, the appeals and follow ups to the Ministry of Local Government and the Seat of Government are just uncountable.
BACKGROUND:
The District was established by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo/Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2017 and came to full operation in 2018. I was privileged to be the first Chief Executive appointed to steer the affairs of this new District.
Nevertheless, the then Afigya Kwabre District housed two(2) Constituencies; Afigya Kwabre South and Afigya Kwabre North. The land size and population was so vast that development became stagnant. The challenges were so enormous and overwhelming to the extent that it impacted negatively on the people.
The NPP government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia saw this anomaly and quickly divided the constituencies into separate Districts. It is important to also note that it was the same NPP Government that created Afigya Kwabre out of the then Kwabre District. It is therefore without doubt nor argument that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government knows the challenges of the Kwabre people and thus responded positively to their developmental needs.
Mention must be made here that the only impact the NDC brought to bear after the creation of Afigya Kwabre was the changing of the Constituencies names to reflect the District, hence: Afigya Kwabre South (District & Constituency) and Afigya Kwabre North (District & Constituency). This l must say, brought its inherent problems as many people, institutions and agencies always get confused with issues of proper identification.
Currently, there is no part of Afigya in our District yet we were called Afigya Kwabre South District.
THE IMPACT OF THE MUNICIPAL STATUS:
The impact of the Municipal status on this District will be very huge and positive. It will speed up developmental processes of the District and make it very dynamic and conducive for tourism, trade etc.
The District is 15km from the central point of Kumasi and part of Greater Kumasi. It is the District that has the greater number of Otumfuor Abrempon Hene (Divisional Chiefs of Kumasi Traditional Council) in Ashanti. It can boast of not less than twenty Abrempon who wield equal powers and serve Manhyia directly. Afigya Kwabre South District (now Kwabre West Municipal) is a hub for Asante cultural heritage and traditions. Due to its proximity to Kumasi, the District has become a dormitory community where most of the citizens work in the central business district (CBD) of Kumasi and return to their abodes.
The District can boast of enormous deposits of granites for the construction industry.
According to the National population census organized by the Ghana Statistical Service, the population of the District was put over 236,000 with emerging towns and villages close to one hundred and two (102).
PROSPECTS:
The new Municipality has a lot of prospects for the Ashanti nation and Ghana in some few years to come.
The biggest airport land reserved to boom the aviation industry in Ghana is located at Ankaase, Wawase and parts of Mpobi.
The Otumfuor Osei Tutu Industrial park is located at Adubinsu and parts of Atrama. This industrial park is envisioned to host the millions of skilled artisans from Suame Magazine with modern Technology by the SMIDO.
The Christian Center known as Grotto, a popular religious site for holy pilgrimage, established by the Catholic Diocese of Konongo-Mampong Diocese is located at Buoho.
Agriculture is one of the mainstay of the District, now Municipal. Areas covering Aduamoa, Aduman, Aboabogya, Swedru, Adwumakasekese, Wawase, Mpobi, Ejuratia, Mposu, Dumakyi, etc are noted for the cultivation of variety of crops.
CHALLENGES:
The challenges of Afigya Kwabre South (now Kwabre West Municipal) are our road networks. Notwithstanding the challenges, it is worth stating that about half of our roads have been awarded on contracts. My sincere appreciation goes to President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for this. Some of these roads have started with others about 70% complete while others are yet to begin.
For the records, the following roads are currently under construction:
1. Maase – Atimatim Road
2. Abass Junction – Maase
3. Chairman Junction – Kookoano
4. Atimatim Newsite and liks
5. Cement Mu Buoho Heman
6. Afrancho – Achiase road
7. Afrancho – Ntiribuoho – Sasa Bomso – Buoho
8. Bible School Junction – Red Park and Liks
9. Buoho – Maase
10. Ankaase – Ejuratia-Mpobi-Wawase- Swedru.
11. Maase Town roads
12. Essen-Besease-Sadelmi
13. Kodie-Mowire – Atrama- Adubinsu
14.Brofoyedu-Atrama.
Another challenge worth mentioning is the fact that, there are only two (2) second cycle institutions operating currently. These are Aduman SHS and Hemang Buoho TVET. To address this challenge, a 4-storey 16 Unit Classroom Block has been built by the Quarry Development Fund (QDF) to start a day secondary school at Nkukua Buoho to be known as St. Francis Senior High.
Another one at Ejuratia, the Amponsem Senior High Technical is completed waiting for absorption by the Ministry of Education, this year. The Ntiribuoho Community has initiated another SHS with support from the District Assembly. Again, the District has laid a foundation for a day SHS at Afrancho.
A 15-acre land has also been acquired at Brofoyedru for the establishment of the College of Health and Allied Sciences.
Finally, a 20-acre land has also been acquired by the Assembly to start a STEM Senior High School at Maase (Kwabre Manhyia).
With all these preparations, the Municipal is ready for a great take off in education for the people of Kwabre West Municipal.
ROADS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED UNDER NANA ADDO/DR. BAWUMIA.
1. Kodie – Aduamoa and town roads.
2. Aduamoa – Aduman and town roads
3. Aduman – Aboabogya
4. Aboabogya – Adwumakasekese – Ebom – Bomfa.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Special mention should be made of these personalities who supported this course in diverse ways.
1. Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo : As M.P and member of the subsidiary committee of Parliament, he pushed this agenda to every limit especially when it was laid before Parliament for consideration. God bless you. The good people of Kwabre West Municipal will forever be grateful.
2. Hon. Agyei Mensah Korsah for seeing to the realization of this dream. Hon., the people of Kwabre West are very grateful.
3. Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA): May the good Lord bless you for your efforts. I remember your interactions with the then Minister of Local Government, Hon. Dan Botwey on this subject.
4. Hon. Collins Ntim for your push and directions.
5. Mr. Pessah of Ministry of Local Government for your constant reminders.
6. Nananom especially Nana Barima Peprah ll, Kodiehene and Nana Boakye Yam Ababio, Nkwantakesehene for your various advocacies to seeing this dream become reality.
7. Prof. Awotwe of Local Government University, Accra.
8. Hon. Assembly Members both old and new of this District now Municipal.
9. My able staff who have supported this course since my installation.
10. Constituency Executives of my beloved New Patriotic Party for the unflinching faith and confidence reposed in me over the years. It’s been an honor working with you all.
May the good Lord bless you all.
THE AFTERMATH:
The narration above points to the simple fact that it is only the NPP Government that has the interest of the people of Kwabre West at heart. For this reason, let us translate this to votes and vote massively for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Here in this new Kwabre West Municipal, the upcoming election should be, to us, a “thank you” to NPP for elevating our district into a municipal status and setting the center stage for unprecedented development and growth.
Writer:
Hon. Dr. Christian Adu-Poku
(New Municipal Chief Executive)
Kwabre West Municipal
