On 4th April 2024, the Asutifi North District Assembly held an inter-sectorial discussion aimed at fostering collaboration among various departments and stakeholders to address key development challenges in the district. The meeting brought together representatives from key sectors including Health, Education, Agriculture, Water and Sanitation, Public Works, Economic Planning, and Civil Society Organizations, as well as community leaders and private sector representatives.
The main agenda focused on aligning sectoral strategies, optimizing resource use, and enhancing service delivery to improve the overall socio-economic development of the district.
The main objective is to enhance the Coordination and integration of activities across sectors, reducing duplication of efforts and ensuring a unified approach to development challenges, identifying opportunities for resource sharing, including financial, human, and technical resources, to achieve cost-effective and impactful outcomes, collectively address complex issues such as poor sanitation, youth unemployment, and healthcare accessibility by leveraging the strengths of different sectors. establish joint monitoring and evaluation frameworks that enable regular assessment of ongoing projects and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
The Co-ordinating Director Mr. Samuel Badu Baiden Addressed some of the key areas for discussions including
Water, Sanitation, and Health Integration: One of the primary focuses was the ongoing water and sanitation challenges in the district, particularly their impact on public health. The Health Department, in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Unit, discussed strategies for improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities, including plans to rehabilitate existing water points and introduce community-led sanitation initiatives.
Educational Support and Youth Empowerment: The Education Department highlighted the need for increased support for school infrastructure and educational materials, especially in remote areas. Discussions also centred around integrating vocational training into the school curriculum to equip students with practical skills relevant to the job market.
Agricultural Development and Food Security: The Agriculture Department presented plans for enhancing food security through improved farming techniques and the introduction of high-yield crop varieties. Discussions included potential partnerships with local farmers and the private sector to facilitate access to markets and financial services.
Economic Development and Job Creation: The Economic Planning Unit emphasized the need for targeted interventions to boost local economic activities and create jobs, particularly for the youth. Proposals included supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promoting entrepreneurship through access to credit and business development services.
The impact is focused on the Assembly agreed to form thematic working groups focused on key areas such as WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), health, and youth employment. These groups will be responsible for developing detailed action plans and ensuring sectoral alignment. A skills development program targeting out-of-school youth was approved, which will involve collaboration between the Education, Agriculture, and Trade departments. The program will offer training in agricultural processing, digital skills, and small-scale business management. A strategy for enhanced community engagement was developed, emphasizing the importance of involving local communities in the planning and implementation of projects. This approach aims to ensure that interventions are responsive to community needs and have local buy-in.
Despite the progress made, there were concerns about the effectiveness of communication and coordination between departments, which sometimes leads to delays and inefficiencies in project implementation. Challenges in data sharing among departments were noted, which affects the ability to make informed decisions and track progress. across sectors.
The inter-sectorial discussion held on 4th April 2024 was a significant step towards enhancing collaboration among sectors in the Asutifi North District Assembly. The meeting succeeded in identifying key areas of synergy, setting priorities for action, and fostering a collective commitment to improving the socio-economic well-being of the district’s residents. Moving forward, the assembly will focus on implementing the agreed action plans, enhancing resource mobilization, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure sustained progress.