Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region may be considered a district without major crime and criminality problems. However, in recent times, the district has recorded some incidences of crime, the latest being the communal feud between some young men at Akrofuom and Odumase in the Obuasi East District.
These pockets of crime and criminal activities have led the District Assembly to institute measures to increase police visibility in the district to potentially avert crime.
Addressing the media after delivering his sessional address at a General Assembly in Akrofuom, the Chief Executive for the district, Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode, condemned the recent communal conflict that erupted between the Akrofuom and Odumase communities, emphasizing that although it involved a small group of people, the Police have intensified their search to bring the perpetrators to book.
Dr. Woode also said that despite the fact that there are few Police personnel in the district, the Assembly has put in place measures to attract more police personnel to the district.
He said, “Currently we are putting up a police station at Gromesa and have also earmarked the old Assembly building as the district police command, all in a bid to boost security in the district.”
Dr. Woode further stated that Police personnel will be stationed at roads prone to robbery attacks to curb the incidence of robbery in such areas.
Reduction in teenage pregnancy
The Akrofuom DCE also mentioned that the district used to lead in teenage pregnancy cases in the region, but due to pragmatic measures put in place by the Assembly, the situation has been controlled.
He said, “It was refreshing to note that there were no reported cases of pregnant girls during the just-ended BECE. Now, the Akrofuom district is no longer leading in reported cases of teenage pregnancy.”
Assembly on course to meet revenue target
The Akrofuom district had generated total revenue of GH¢1.1 billion by September 2023, against the revised budget of GH¢1.4 billion. The Honorable Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode attributed this to the practical steps the Assembly has employed to meet its revenue targets. He said that although the amount generated was without proceeds from property rates, he was optimistic that once the inflows of property rates hit the Assembly’s accounts, they would meet their target for the year.
Presenting the 2024 composite budget to the Assembly, Kennedy Ransford Gyimah, District Budget Analyst, said that 2023 had been quite challenging with the erratic flow of government funds.
However, with the grit, determination, and hard work of the DCE and his staff, they are on course to achieve the majority of their set goals and targets for the year.
The composite budget of 2024 will seek to harmonize and consolidate gains achieved between 2018 and 2024.
The budget analyst said that it is a budget that aims to cut across all angles and all spheres of the economy. He again said that the budget encompasses all sectors of the economy to ensure the holistic growth of the economy, not a singular dimensional growth.
The Assembly envisages generating and spending a total of GH¢11,381,883.79 for the year 2024.