BONO RCC HOLDS 2ND 2024 REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL MEETING AT RESIDENCY IN SUNYANI

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On Tuesday, 26th November 2024, the Office of the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) held its second Regional Coordinating Council meeting for the year at the Residency Conference Hall in Sunyani.

Present at the meeting was the Honourable Bono Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene who is the chairperson of the Council and Mr. Andrews Mensah, Chief Director of Bono RCC who is the Secretary to the Council.

Other members present are the Municipal and District Chief Executives of the various Assemblies together with their Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, Presiding Members of the Assemblies, and Heads of the Various decentralized departments of the RCC.

In his opening statement, the Chief Director, Mr. Andrews Mensah welcomed members to the meeting. He indicated that the meeting was the second for the year which met the required indicator of the Performance Contract in relation to Council Meetings.

He then outlined the agenda for the meeting which were the preparedness of the Electoral Commission concerning the 2024 General Elections, the preparedness of the Police and other Security Services regarding safety and security towards the upcoming elections, and Land Use and Spatial issues in the region.

The Hon. Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, in her address welcomed members to the second Council meeting of the year. She indicated that, the meeting was a special one since it marked the end of tenure of office of the NPP second administration. Consequently, she expressed her appreciation for the collaboration and support displayed by all members of the Council to further the progress of the Region. She urged members to continue in the spirit of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment to incur progressive socio-economic development to the region.

The Hon. Regional Minister indicated that the security situation in the region remained calm and peaceful even though there were sporadic instances of theft, assaults, rape, and drug peddling, among others which were efficiently managed by the security agencies. In view of this, she commended the Regional, Municipal and District Security Councils (REGSEC/MUSECs/DISECs) for their resilience and hard work.

She bemoaned the negative effects of Sampa Chieftaincy disputes, which was not only claiming lives and property but also dissipating resources needed for socio-economic development of the Jaman North District. Consequently, she respectfully requested the Bono Regional House of Chiefs to expedite actions in resolving all chieftaincy disputes both old and new pending before the Judicial Committee of the house.

The Hon. Regional Minister informed the house of two basic priorities she had started and wished the new administration of the Council would continue. These included the implementation of Blue Print Development Plan for the region to ensure consistency in the development of the Bono Region; and the implementation Green Bono Agenda within the Green Ghana Project Framework to ensure that before building permits are granted, Municipal and District Assemblies would require prospective developers to plant at least two trees at their project sites.

Concluding her address, the Hon. Regional Minister implored members to embrace peace before, during and after the December 7 elections. She finally thanked members for their co-operation and unwavering support during her tenure as the Bono Regional Minister and Chair of the Regional Co-ordinating Council.

The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Asirifi-Young S. G. also briefed Members on how prepared his outfit is to ensure a free, fair and credible 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The Regional Police Commander, DCOP J. Oklu Gyamera, also addressed the House on the preparedness of the Security Agencies towards the upcoming general elections. He assured members of the readiness of the Security Agencies to ensure maximum peace and security before, during and after the elections.

Regional Director of Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Mr. Frank Martey Korli also gave a presentation on Spatial Planning activities in the region.

The Hon. Regional Minister in her closing remarks thanked members for their contributions to shape the decisions of the Council. She intimated that as we approached the Presidential and Parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024, all members should uphold the values of peace, unity, and democratic integrity and maintain a stable and harmonious nation through the elections and beyond.