PAGA HOSPITAL PRAISED FOR ZERO RECORD OF MATERNAL DEATHS 12th DEC., 2023

The District Chief Executive [DCE] for the Kassena-Nankana West District in the Upper East Region, Hon. Gerard Ataogye has praised Management of the district’s hospital, located in the district’s capital, Paga for recording zero maternal mortalities for three consecutive years. The hospital has not recorded a single maternity death for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The DCE who was addressing the last Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly, held in the Assembly’s conference hall on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, noted that though the facility recorded some two unfortunate maternal deaths in 2023, all stakeholders owed it a responsibility to continue to support the hospital in every way possible, so as to ensure there is no reoccurrence. The DCE also commended the International Organisation of Migration for the construction and furnishing of a case containment/isolation facility cum a 6-unit water closet toilet with a mechanized borehole for the Port Health Authorities at the Paga Border. 

DCE, Hon. Ataogye Delivering His Address

Further on health, he disclosed that records from the health authorities indicated that, malaria continued to lead the top 10 diseases in the district despite vigorous efforts by health personnel in distributing impregnated mosquito nets to residents. He thus urged the district directorate of the Ghana Health Service to double its efforts in sensitizing the communities on malaria prevention techniques.

Turning his attention on the Assembly’s financials, Hon. Ataogye said the Assembly received a cumulative revenue inflow of GH¢5,470,459.19 out of a total budget of GH¢13,166,393.74 for the first three quarters of year 2023. These total receipts represent 41.55% of the Assembly’s approved revenue budget for the year. This came to light in the District Chief Executive’s [DCE] address at the last Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly, held in the Assembly’s conference hall on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

The DCE, Hon. Gerard Ataogye, gave more details on the Assembly’s financial performance for the period and disclosed that, the Assembly was able to mobilise only 63.10 percent of the proposed Internally Generated Fund [IGF] from the Revenue Budget. He noted that for some of the revenue heads, the Assembly performed exceedingly well but requires more efforts to improve on the areas that had poor outcomes regarding the planned collection targets.

For instance except for “fines” that exceeded its approved target; from GH¢39,194.24 to GH¢45,370.01, all other revenue heads including rates, fees, rent and licenses all recorded shortfalls, though some are very marginal. The DCE also revealed that, the Assembly’s planned expenditure for the year was pegged at GH¢13,627,636.88 but by the end of September, 2023, the Assembly had spent only GH¢4,469,033.75. This represents 32.79 percent of the budget. It spent 2,349,207.99 Ghana Cedis on compensation whilst goods and services received an expenditure of 1,737,147.08 Ghana Cedis among others.

A Section Of Hon. Assembly Members

 

Another important sector of the district that the DCE’s address touched on was security. On this, Hon. Ataogye disclosed that, there has been relative peace across the district during the reporting period but noted that, jihadist activities in neighbouring Burkina Faso remains a threat in the area. To this end, Government through the Ministry of Defense is putting up some structures to house security personnel “to intensify our surveillance along the borders. Lands have been earmarked for the construction of military bases in Kayoro, Kazigu and Paga-Nania.” He appealed to members of the House, to assist in facilitating the smooth acquisition of lands for the projects.

On education, the DCE stated that government is doing its best to bring education to the doorsteps of the citizenry and said for instance, with the support from the GETFund, 4-Number 6-Unit Classroom Blocks have been constructed and handed over to the beneficiary communities for use. These include Sakaa Junior High School, English and Arabic Primary School in Paga, St. Oscars Roman Catholic Primary School in Kajelo and Chania Roman Catholic Primary School. Meanwhile, the number of schools under the School Feeding Programme in the district has increased from 59 to 69 schools with an enrolment of 17,049 pupils.

Concluding his address, Hon. Ataogye announced to the House that, sites for some 11 sub-projects across six clusters in all the three zones of the district, have since been handed over to contractors under the first phase of the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion [SOCO] project and works, subsequently started. According to him, all the contractors are expected to complete the works within three [3] months. Some of these sub-projects include; completion of 1-number CHPS Compound at Kandiga-Atibabisi, rehabilitation of the Nakolo Health Centre at Nakolo-Savio, Rehabilitation of Kanania CHPS Compound at Kanania, construction of 2-number 16 Unit Market stalls for Sirigu Animal Market at Sirigu Piwenlingo and the construction of a Community Centre at Kayoro.

This last ordinary meeting of the Assembly, also gave its approval for the Assembly’s 2024 budget.