Accra: A total of 7,114 beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) in the Kassena-Nankana West District will be registered. The National Household Registry under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is undertaking the registration of all LEAP beneficiaries and households in non-LEAP communities across the district.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Stephen Aeke Akurugu, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, disclosed this during the first ordinary meeting of the Assembly. The registration exercise aims to reassess and qualify LEAP beneficiaries for the next window, effective September 2025. Mr. Akurugu urged Assembly members to communicate the importance of the exercise to their communities.
On the topic of sanitation, Mr. Akurugu highlighted the district's challenges with solid waste management. Issues such as the lack of proper disposal sites, insufficient waste bins, and widespread open defecation were identified. The Environmental Unit of the Assembly has proposed strategies including the removal of unauthorized dumping sites and educating communities and schools on proper waste disposal practices. Additional measures include procuring waste containers for institutions and enforcing by-laws on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
In education, the district is facing a teacher deficit, with 25,658 students from Kindergarten to Senior High School and a shortfall of 1,350 teachers. Mr. Akurugu plans to engage the Regional Directorate of Education to address this issue. He acknowledged the role of NGOs in supporting health and education sectors, citing Engage Now Africa's collaboration in constructing school facilities.
The school feeding program has resumed, benefiting all 69 public basic schools with a total population of 16,594 pupils. Mr. Akurugu noted that all cooks and 103 caterers have been screened and certified by health professionals.
Despite relative peace in the district, Mr. Akurugu, who also chairs the District Security Council (DISEC), mentioned ongoing land and chieftaincy disputes. The DISEC is working with communities to maintain peace, and Mr. Akurugu urged Assembly members to promote peace and report any potential security issues.
