KETU SOUTH MAKES PROGRESS (PAGE 32, APRIL 20, 2010)

THE District Assembly concept was introduced in 1988 with the view to devolving power and authority to the grass roots and to enable the people to take firm decisions on what really made life comfortable for them
Apart from serving as a platform for good governance, the district assembly has increasingly become the avenue for accessing electricity, potable water, school buildings, health facilities and youth employment, among other vital social facilities.
One district assembly, which has made modest investments to enhance the status on rural development is Ketu South.
The Ketu South District Assembly is now providing various projects with its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the European Union (EU) Micro Project and the District Development Fund (DDF). 
Currently, the assembly has initiated nine projects at a cost of GH¢391,429.70 under the DACF.
The projects include a 12-seater water closet toilet at Hatsukope, three–unit classroom blocks at Sonto and Atsiaklorbor, and a day care centre at Adafianu.
The others are the rehabilitation of a school block at Klikor Central and a bungalow and the construction of a guest house at Hedzranawo, renovation of the district assembly canteen at Tokor and the construction of an eight-seater water closet toilet at the Aflao Preventive School.
Under the second phase of the EU micro project, the assembly has executed four projects at Huime Agordome, Dodorkope, Logove and Akame at a cost of GH¢82,593.
They include three day care centres, two 16-seater vault toilets, and a culvert.
The provision of water systems has been the top priority of the district assembly’s development agenda.
The assembly has provided a water pumping machine to the St Paul Senior High School to facilitate the distribution of potable water to a population of more than 2,500 in the school and its environs.
Fortunately for the assembly, an American philanthropist has provided resources for the drilling of boreholes in most needy communities in the district, which started in October, last year.
In fact, the “Life Well Drilling Project” in the Ketu South District has been so generous in providing water for 88 communities, some of which had hitherto been depending on water from neighbouring Togo for survival. 
Some of the beneficiary communities are Anoenu, Ziome, Akplorkploe, Duta-Agbawene, Duta, Duta-Gakli Agbawene, Gamadzra, Yame, Aveyiborne, Wute-Lente, Agbobome, Tublukope, Kpogedi, Kopeyia, Apedido, Klexorme, Xedzranawo, Dodorkope, Weta, Lotakor, Kpodzi Aveshie, Wudoaba, Gamadzra, Fokuime and Wexorme-Anoenu.
The assembly has also financed a number of projects at Tasconer, Avegato, Nogokpo, Agavedzi, Dornomadi, Srohume and Adafienu Klikor at an estimated cost of GH¢403455.67 with its share of the District Development Fund.
Twelve electoral areas have been earmarked for extension of power.
It is estimated that 120 communities will benefit in the Taskcorner, Dordokope/Atiaklobor, Tagbato,
Avloto/Glidzi, Sounto, Srohume, Lotakor, Kpoglu, Nyekornakpoe, Yamey, Kopeyia/Agbogbome and Duta electoral areas.
Others are Klikor Central, Adafienu, Agbozume Ahokpoey, Gbugbla, Logove, Nogokope, Denu Afegame, Tokor/Hatsukope, Akame, Akpokploe, Blekusu and Agavedzi electoral areas.
After touring some of the projects with the Daily Graphic, the Ketu South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Bernard Frank Amable, disclosed that the government had awarded contract for the construction of the Agbozume–Aflao highway for rehabilitation.
He said the road project would reinvigorate commercial and social life in Aflao as the gateway to Ghana, adding that the deteriorated condition of the road had caused significant reduction in traffic through the road corridor.
“A shopping mall is currently under construction at Aflao at a cost of GH¢150,000 and there has been mad rush by businessmen to rent the premises,” Mr Amable declared.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the development of the district, stressing that there were future plans to rehabilitate police stations and also construct new and modern ones and help in the provision of vehicles for police patrols.
Mr Amable said he was determined to provide street lights for communities such as Beat 9, Awakorme, Gbedekope, Torgbui Hor, Klikortorme, Laklevikope, and institution like Somey Senior High School, the Police Station at Agbozume and Adzekope Post Office.