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AKATSI NORTH HEALTH DIRECTORATE CALLS FOR ATTENTION TO CHILD HEALTH

The Akatsi North District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr. Timothy Mahama Awentok, has advised parents to prioritize the health need of their children under five years.

He described that stage of children’s life as crucial, and said they deserved the best health investment.

“Suffice me to say that there can be no meaningful investment in the growth and upbringing of children than investing in their health,” he noted.

Mr. Awentok said this at the launch of the 2025 Child Health Promotion and the African Vaccination held at Afiadenyigba, a Sub-district in the Akatsi North District.
The launch was on the theme: “Every child deserves a healthy future, invest in your child. Attend weighing regularly.”

Mr. Awentok said the GHS prioritized the healthy growth of children under five, and therefore, collaborated with partners and stakeholders to ensure that every child born alive, lived to celebrate their fifth birthday and beyond in good health.

On line-up activities for the weeklong event, the Director mentioned free birth registration, education of mothers on proper and exclusive breastfeeding, the importance of sleeping under Insecticide Treated Net (ITN), administration of vitamin ‘A’ supplements, weighing and immunization services.

Mr. Awentok said childhood immunization was the most effective measure of providing immunity to children which prevented them from childhood infections and other preventable diseases.

“We currently administer about 14 antigens at various stages and groups of children under five years, and this has contributed to a reduction in children under five mortalities over a period of five years,” he said.

The Director urged parents to consciously concentrate on the nutrition of their children under five, noting that it was a well known fact that the period was the most vulnerable and critical years in terms of growth and proper development.

“Our mothers make time for nutrition, counselling, breastfeeding intervention and vitamin ‘A’ supplementation all aimed at prompting the healthy growth of their children,” he said.

Mr. Awentok appealed to mothers and caregivers to make time to patronize other services including Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) activities.

DCE UNDERTAKES WORKING VISIT TO AVE-AFIADENYIGBA IRRIGATION FACILITY

The District Chief Executive, Hon. Bless Kodjo Katamani, earlier today paid a working visit to the District’s irrigation facility at Ave-Afiadenyigba to assess its current state and gather first-hand information on its operations.

The visit forms part of preparatory activities ahead of an upcoming meeting with potential investors who have expressed strong interest in supporting and revitalizing the facility to make it fully operational and productive.

The DCE noted that agriculture remains a key pillar of development in the Akatsi North District, and the Assembly is committed to leveraging strategic partnerships to create opportunities that promote growth, ensure food security, and create jobs for the people.

The Assembly will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure the full revitalization and optimal utilization of the irrigation facility for the benefit of farmers and the District at large.

AKATSI NORTH DISTRICT ORGANIZES SECOND MANAGEMENT MEETING.

The Akatsi North District Assembly in the Volta Region under the supervision of the District Chief Executive (DCE) and the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD) has organized the second management meeting for the year 2025.

Opening the session, the DCE, Hon. Bless Kodjo Katamani has admonished all heads of department and unit to remain focus on their mandates and work assiduously to propel the growth of the district.

He said the District had qualified personnel to deliver, and stressed the need for them to “think outside the box” to achieve their respective core mandates, and not expect releases from central government.

He described the meeting as important as it provided the opportunity for him to understand the mandate of each department and unit.

The DCE commended the revenue department of the Assembly for their innovation and urged them to do more to increase the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) to support the development and unit needs of the District.

On her part, the District Co-ordinating Director, Madam Rubby Sitsope Besagah, called for collaboration and unity among colleagues for personal and departmental growth.

She reminded staff of the laid down official communication channels within the Assembly, and entreated staff to be guided by them.

The departments and units at the meeting were the Finance, Works, Agriculture, Physical Planning, Budget, Internal Audit, Procurement and Stores, Environmental Health, Human Resource, Records, Community Development and Social Welfare.

Other supporting department and agencies outside the Assembly were the National Youth Authority, the Births and Deaths Registry, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Information Services Department (ISD), Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS) among others.

Akatsi North District Assembly Supports Four Persons with Disabilities through Education and Economic Empowerment Initiatives

On May 14, 2025, the Akatsi North District Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, provided essential support to four Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the communities of Ave Sanyi, Metsrikasa, and Hadave. The beneficiaries, made up of two males and two females, received the assistance as part of the Disability Component of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), aimed at promoting inclusion and empowering vulnerable individuals, particularly PWDs, through access to education and economic opportunities.

Three of the beneficiaries, who are students, were supported with items to help them remain in school and participate actively in their learning. These items included school uniforms, exercise books, textbooks, school bags, footwear, and stationery such as pens, pencils, and mathematical sets.

One adult beneficiary from Hadave, who has difficulty walking, was supported to begin a table-top income-generating activity in petty trading, focusing on fish and other goods. The support package included a cash grant as initial capital, basic equipment relevant to the business, a quantity of assorted fish including blolovi and abobi, a bag of salt, and an undisclosed amount of money to aid her business operations.

The intervention is expected to lead to improved school attendance and academic performance for the student beneficiaries, increased income generation and self-reliance for the entrepreneur, and an overall enhancement of dignity and inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in the district.

The support has been warmly welcomed by the beneficiaries and is anticipated to significantly contribute to their empowerment. The Assembly plans to conduct follow-up visits to monitor progress before considering any further support.

EDUCATIONIST CONFIRMED DCE FOR AKATSI NORTH

The Assembly members for the Akatsi North District have unanimously confirmed Hon. Bless Kodjo Katamani as District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.

The 49 year old Educationist polled 18 votes representing 100 percent of the votes, which indicated overwhelming endorsement of the President’s nominee for DCE.

The Presiding Member for the District, Hon. Patrick Kwame Ahiabu, prior to the confirmation, appealed to members to set the pace by being the first to confirm the President’s nominee for DCE position in the country.

“Hon. Members, all eyes, both locally and globally are on the Akatsi North as we take this significant step in governance. The President of the Republic is watching closely as we work to bring governance to the doorstep of the people,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Hon. Katamani gave the assurance that; he would serve with integrity, dedication and humility.

“I recognize the challenges that lie ahead, but also see great opportunities for growth and transformation. Together, we will prioritize education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and economic empowerment to uplift our people and create a prosperous District for all,” he said.

The Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, in his address, said confirmations of Municipal and District Chief Executives across the region was the “Reset” process of the Mahama-led-government.

He stressed the need for Assembly members across the Region to fast-track the confirmation of Chief Executives, noting that “Any attempt to delay the process is an attempt to delay the Reset Agenda.”

CLIMATE CHANGE: AKATSI RESIDENTS URGED TO MITIGATE IMPACT

Residents in the Akatsi North District in the Volta Region, are admonished to desist from environmental practices to mitigate the impact of climate change in the District.

Dr. Portia Adade Williams, a Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), who presented a report on rapid climate change for validation, called for behaviour change among residents to reverse the looming threat of climate change.

The report was based on a research conducted in some rural communities in the District.

Touching on some key findings of the research, Dr. Williams mentioned decline in water resources, dried up water bodies, decrease in underground water table, soil degradation, loss of soil moisture, soil erosion and nutrient depletion which negatively impacted the environment.

She added that changes in biodiversity habitat and ecosystems, decline in forest reserve, medical plants species and non-timber forest products crucial for local livelihood had heavy toll on women rather men.

She further noted that poor sanitation which resulted in cholera, increased temperatures which caused some heat related diseases, poor crop yields among others were the consequences of climate change.

She, therefore, appealed to residents to plant drought-resistant crops and trees, practice biodiversity as an effective adaptation measure, irrigation, water harvesting and re-used, sensitization and awareness creation to minimize the negative impact on the environment.

Dr. Williams recommended the strengthening of infrastructure, promotion of gender equity in resource access, diversifying livelihoods and improvement in agricultural practices.

She added that addressing the health and education needs of the people would help to build community resilience and said the research findings would be integrated into national policies and planning.

Madam Rubby Sitsope Besagah, the District Coordinating Director, said the Strengthening Investment in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) project was a five-year partnership programme between Cowater Ghana and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

She said it was intended to partner Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to enhance climate adaptation investment.

Madam Besagah urged participants, especially women who were mostly affected by climate change to actively contribute to the validation process to ensure that the results in the findings truly reflected the situation in the District.

AKATSI NORTH DISTRICT COMMEMORATES 68TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

On March 06, 2025, the Akatsi North District in the Volta Region has modestly commemorated Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary celebration to reflect the directive from the Presidency.

The Ave Senior High School (AVESCO) cadet corp was the only contingent at this year’s independence parade, held at the forecourt of the District Assembly.

It was on theme: “Reflect, Review and Reset.”
Madam Rubby Sitsope Besagah, the District Co-Coordinating Director, in her address, called on workers in all sectors of the economy to contribute to nation-building as envisioned by the country’s forbearers.

She urged residents to reflect on the past, review the present and reset the future to transform the District and country as a whole.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Akatsi North Constituency, Dr Richard Awudza, the Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), noted that it was the first time in the history of Ghana that Independence Day was celebrated moderately to cut cost.

He reiterated President John Dramani Mahama’s quest to reset the country and turn its fortunes around to the benefit of all Ghanaians.

He reaffirmed the words of the President to re-construct the Ho-Denu stretch of road to provide relief to commuters.

The occasion was chaired by the Paramount Chief of the Ave Dakpa Traditional Area, Torgbui Nyamekor Glakpe V.

Other dignitaries at the event included Mama Megbeakor, Queen Mother of Dzita from Ave Dakpa, District Security Heads, Assembly Members, Political Party representatives, Heads of Departments and some members of the public.

AKATSI NORTH DISTRICT RECORDS DECLINE IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

The Akatsi North District in the Volta Region, has consistently recorded a decline in teenage pregnancy in two consecutive years.

The District recorded a decline from 12.23 per cent in 2023 to 9.79 per cent in 2024.

The achievement was as a result of effective collaborations between the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Ghana Education Service (GES) and some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in the health sector.

Mr. Timothy Mahama Awentok, the District Director of the GHS, disclosed this at the 2024 Annual Performance Review meeting in Ave Dakpa, the District capital.

The review meeting was on the theme: “Strengthening Primary Health Care Service System for Improve Access to Quality health Service Delivery: The Role of Network of Practice.”

Mr. Awentok said the District Health Directorate in collaboration with the various health facilities across the District constantly held community engagements and provided sensitization on the negative impact of teenage pregnancy, education on adolescent health service, training on menstrual hygiene and reproductive rights among others.

He urged parents and teachers to mentor the Girl-Child to focus on their future dreams and not fall victim to any sexual advances from the opposite sex, especially some unscrupulous male adults.

The Director further highlighted some achievements including improved access and quality healthcare delivery, better resource allocation and workforce development and innovation.

He said there was mass distribution of treated mosquito nets in the District to reduce malaria cases, coupled with successful rounds of polio campaigns.

Mr. Awentok noted a decline in some indicators in Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), and said Penta 3 coverage reduced from 68 percent to 64 percent in 2024.

Measles Rubella 2 coverage reduced from 63 percent to 60 percent and another critical indicator that has seen decline was Family Planning from 37. 06 percent to 32.94 percent, he said.

He attributed the decline in childhood immunization to inadequate number of health professionals, hard-to-reach communities, especially during the rainy season among others.

The Director said tuberculosis coverage decreased from 56 percent to 51 percent from 2023 to 2024.

He called for the reactivation of non functional health management committees describing it as a critical tool to bridge some development gaps between the health professionals and community members.

He expressed concern about the refusal of some health professionals to accept postings to the District, and disclosed that 13 health professionals were posted to the District in the year under review, but only five out of the number reported.

According to him, all attempts to reach out to the remaining eight staff who declined to report, was unsuccessful, “We would like to appeal to the Assembly to provide incentives to attract and retain more critical staff in the District,” he said.