“We are ready for the District, Okere Chiefs and People declare”

By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA

Adukrom, Feb 24, GNA - The chiefs and People of Okere, have declared their readiness and preparedness towards the smooth take-off of the Okere District and made a fervent appeal for all citizens to get involved. to make the district a model for others.

“We the chiefs have resolved to make Adukrom the district capital, and have made arrangements for an interim office, accommodation for the District Chief Executive and others and all other logistics necessary for the District to become functional”

Nana Saforo Okoampah, Chief of Akuapem-Apirede, made this declaration at a grand durbar attended by the chiefs and people of all the seven Akuapem towns that form the Okere district at Adukrom, to formally announce the inauguration of the district to the people and to solicit their support.

The elated chief who spoke on behalf of the 15-member committee tasked to make the necessary arrangements for the smooth take-off, said “For this dream to come true, we owe our gratitude to our Member of parliament Mr Dan Botwe for his efforts and his unflinching support towards the development of Okere”

Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, commended the chiefs and people of Okere for the show of support and commitment towards the smooth take-off of the district and announced that the formal inauguration was slated for March 15.

He said “the peaceful manner in which the chiefs of the Okere traditional area, have carried themselves to fully participate in the arrangement and activities towards the smooth take-off of the district is commendable”

The MP who is also Minister for National re-organization and development reiterated the commitment of the President to improve upon the wellbeing of the people and disclosed that in that direction, all roads in Okere had been awarded on contract for rehabilitation and announced the construction of 3 solar mechanized boreholes in some communities.

He also disclosed that the school feeding programme had been expanded to about 15 towns and villages in Okere and said “all these are indications of good things to happen and to ensure that the district takes off well resourced”

The Minster called on the chiefs to rally their people towards the payment of property rates and other tolls to enable the new district make enough internally generated funds (IGF) for development.

The Okere district is one of the 6 districts created by government in 2017 in the Eastern Region, and was carved out of the Akuapem North district and is made up of the seven Okere speaking towns and over 80 communities on the Akuapem ridge.

The Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Dennis Aboagye, said as a parent district, they had made all the necessary contribution to ensure that the Okere district succeeded and also added his voice to the payment of property rates.

He said the contribution of Okere in terms of IGF was about Ghc200, 000 adding that “but Okere has the prospects of raising about GHc600, 000 and therefore appealed to the citizens to pay their property rates. 

GNA

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