Check disbursement of Common Fund — Togbe Patamia Dzekle VII
The Paramount Chief of the Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekle VII, has said that the chiefs and people of Battor are at a loss over the way the Common Fund meant for district assemblies is administered, distributed and disbursed.
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Togbega Dzekle VII expressed the concern at the 2014 annual Battor Hogbeza that was celebrated a couple of weeks ago. The Hogbeza festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Battor every year to offer indigenes of the town the opportunity to meet and interact and reflect on progress made so far and consider ways of attracting investments to the area.
This year’s festival was on the theme “Development In Unity”. According to Togbe Dzekle, no investor will think of investing in the area if the people continue to engage in activities that create disunity and conflict.
He said the lack of funds for the Battor District Assembly had made the assembly dormant as it was unable to undertake a number of developmental activities including fumigation of the environment, payment of NALAG dues, improvement on sanitation and education on HIV and AIDS.
“We are not sure if there are any activities taking place at all. We live in an environment where filth has engulfed entire cities and towns with little efforts being made to correct them,” he said.
Under the circumstances, he appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to take a second look at the decentralisation process and the way monies meant for the assemblies were disbursed. For instance, he said, district assemblies could be allowed to seek their own funding and manage it to ensure sustained development for the people.
“Let us not deceive ourselves that we have peace and free from strife,” he said.
Togbi Dzekle said, in addition to several social intervention programmes put in place by the government including the school feeding programme, capitation grant, free school uniforms and exercise books, it should also consider providing educational infrastructure and incentives including giving headteachers and hardworking teachers houses in order to retain and motivate them to work harder.
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He also urged the government, institutions and individuals to support the Battor Educational Fund meant to help brilliant needy students in the traditional area to enhance their education.
He, nonetheless, commended institutions which had over the years supported the fund and hoped that more girls and boys in the community would benefit from it.
Nana Soglo-Alloh IV, the Vice-President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, supported the educational fund with GH¢10,000. He reminded chiefs in the area to avoid disputes and rather seek for the development of their communities and the creation of jobs for the youth.
The festival was celebrated in a grand style and had several cultural groups displaying rich traditional dances and poetry.