School Infrastructure, Teacher Accommodation Top Talensi DCE’s Education Agenda
The Talensi District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. John Millim Nabwomya, has pointed out number of interventions and achievements recorded in the education sector since taking over as District Chief Executive Hon. Nabwomya made the disclosure during an exclusive engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh on the “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” programme. According to the DCE, the Talensi District Assembly, with support from the government and other stakeholders, has undertaken a number of projects aimed at improving teaching and learning, providing educational infrastructure and addressing some of the challenges confronting teachers and pupils in the district. Hon. Nabwomya said the Assembly has completed a school block at Gazore under the Social Cohesion (SOCO) programme. Although the facility is yet to be formally handed over, he said it is already being used by pupils. He further disclosed that the Assembly has commissioned a three-unit classroom block with an office at Gbey in the Gazore area. Another three-unit classroom block at Gatu is also expected to be handed over shortly, he said. The DCE also highlighted the completion and handover of a three-unit classroom block at the Tongo Senior High Technical School in the Baare Electoral Area. According to him, the facility includes an office for the head of the school and a changing room for girls and was also completed under the SOCO programme. Hon. Nabwomya said the Assembly has also procured educational furniture to improve the learning environment in schools across the district. He disclosed that approximately 1,200 dual desks have been procured, alongside 24 hexagonal tables for kindergarten pupils and about 240 chairs. He said the furniture was being assembled and prepared for distribution to beneficiary schools. The DCE further spoke about the Assembly’s response to rainstorm damage that affected several schools in the district. He explained that a heavy rainstorm in May caused significant damage to a number of school buildings, with some roofs ripped off. The Assembly, he said, used its internally generated funds (IGF) to begin repairing some of the affected schools. However, he noted that the situation at Gare Primary School became particularly challenging after another heavy rainstorm in August caused further damage to a section of the school that had already been affected. Faced with limited resources, Hon. Nabwomya said he sought assistance from benevolent individuals, including Dr. Martin Kolbil Yamborigya, the Commissioner in charge of Domestic Tax Revenue at the Ghana Revenue Authority. He said the Assembly’s engineers were instructed to assess the damage and prepare an estimate for the rehabilitation. According to the DCE, the affected school block was eventually reroofed using what he described as high-quality aluminium roofing sheets. He said the facility has since been put back into use. Hon. Nabwomya identified teacher accommodation as one of the major challenges affecting education delivery in the district. He explained that teachers posted to remote communities sometimes come from other regions and are faced with difficulties securing accommodation close to their schools. According to him, where teachers are forced to live in nearby towns and travel long distances to their schools every day, valuable teaching time could be lost. To address the challenge, he said the Assembly is conducting feasibility work towards constructing 10 self-contained rooms for teachers, together with a mechanised borehole, a 3,500-litre polytank mounted on a concrete stand and electricity. The proposed accommodation facilities, he explained, will be located at strategic points to serve teachers from clusters of surrounding communities. He said one such facility is currently being commissioned, while preparations are underway for two additional projects. The DCE explained that the cluster approach would allow teachers stationed in nearby communities to access accommodation without necessarily having to travel long distances from larger towns. The Assembly, according to Hon. Nabwomya, has also been supporting programmes organised by the District Education Directorate to promote girl-child education. He cited recent support provided for a Girl Child Day programme organised by the Girl Child Coordinator at the District Education Office. The initiative, he said, was aimed at encouraging girls to remain in school and supporting efforts to reduce challenges that could lead to girls dropping out. Hon. Nabwomya said the interventions form part of the Assembly’s broader commitment to improving educational infrastructure, teacher welfare and the learning environment across Talensi District. He expressed appreciation to the government, development partners, traditional authorities, individuals and other stakeholders whose support, he said, has contributed to the progress recorded in the education sector. The engagement formed part of Apexnewsgh’s “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” programme, which provides a platform for district-level leaders to account to residents on development initiatives, achievements and challenges. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Talensi DCE Outlines Key Health Sector Achievements Under His Administration
The Talensi District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. John Millim Nabwomya, has outlined a number of interventions and achievements recorded in the district’s health sector since he assumed office. Hon. Nabwomya made the revelations during an exclusive engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh on the “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” programme. According to the DCE, the health sector in Talensi District has witnessed significant improvements through the completion of critical infrastructure, restoration of essential services and collaboration between the assembly, traditional authorities, communities and private sector actors. One of the major achievements highlighted by the DCE is the completion of the Tindongo CHPS Compound, which he said was constructed ahead of schedule. He explained that construction of the facility commenced following a sod-cutting ceremony on October 25, 2025, with the contractor initially given nine months to complete the project. However, the project was completed in six months and subsequently handed over. Hon. Nabwomya noted that the project had particular significance for the Tindongo community, as an earlier attempt to complete it had stalled after the NDC government left office in 2016. He explained that one of the challenges that affected the project was the facility’s distance from the nearest electricity connection point. The assembly therefore used internally generated funds to procure and install electricity poles to connect the CHPS compound to the national grid. The facility, according to the DCE, has also been equipped with a mechanised borehole and polytank to provide a reliable water supply. He said the 20-bed facility also includes a daycare centre and a casework room equipped with a projector, providing additional support for healthcare delivery and community activities. Another major intervention highlighted by the DCE was the restoration of the district’s only ambulance, which had reportedly remained out of service for about three years. Hon. Nabwomya said the ambulance had been left grounded after its engine was removed and sent to Kumasi for repairs, but despite repeated assurances, the engine was not returned. Concerned about the impact of the situation on emergency healthcare delivery, the DCE said he sought support from Unity Mining, a group of small-scale miners operating in the area. He explained that rather than accepting cash directly, the assembly instructed the group to pay the money into the assembly’s official account to ensure transparency and accountability. The funds, he said, were subsequently used to procure a new engine and other necessary parts to restore the ambulance. According to Hon. Nabwomya, the ambulance is now fully operational and has become a major emergency response asset serving Talensi and neighbouring districts. The DCE also spoke about measures taken to address accommodation challenges confronting health professionals in the district. He cited the case of a newly posted doctor who was reportedly evicted from his residence, saying the district leadership responded by renovating an unused government bungalow. The renovation, he said, was completed within 72 hours, allowing the doctor to secure accommodation and continue working in the district. Hon. Nabwomya further attributed some of the improvements in healthcare delivery to regular field visits by himself and his team. He recounted a visit to the chief’s compound at Wakii, where health workers reportedly complained about unstable electricity supply and inadequate water. The challenges, he said, were addressed promptly, contributing to improved working conditions and helping facilitate the return of a midwife to the facility. He noted that the presence of the midwife has contributed to the safe delivery of newborns in the community. The DCE stressed that his administration places considerable emphasis on monitoring projects and health facilities to ensure that public resources are used appropriately. He said joint inspections are conducted with relevant sector directors and engineers to assess ongoing projects and ensure that contractors adhere to approved specifications before facilities are handed over. Beyond infrastructure and emergency healthcare, Hon. Nabwomya said the assembly has also continued to support vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. He explained that funds have been distributed to persons with disabilities to enable them to establish income-generating activities and improve their livelihoods. The DCE said the combination of health infrastructure, emergency response, staff welfare, regular monitoring and support for vulnerable groups forms part of the assembly’s broader efforts to improve the wellbeing of residents. He maintained that the progress recorded in the district has been made possible through collaboration among the assembly, traditional leaders, communities, health workers and development partners. The engagement formed part of Apexnewsgh’s “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” programme, which provides a platform for district leaders to account to residents on development interventions, achievements and challenges. Source: Apexnewsgh.com