Category: News

The executives were present to congratulate and welcome the regional minister into the region and also declare their support for him towards the development of the region where the Minister admonished them to embrace unity as Queen mothers to champion the cause of women in the Oti region.

He reaffirmed outfit’s readiness and commitment to provide necessary support for the traditional authorities including the Queen mothers at large.

“I have a lot of programme for Queen mothers as well as world Bank project for Queen mothers . I encourage you to canvas for peace and unity and play their supporting role of advising the chiefs on traditional governance,” he said.

The Queenmothers tasked the Minister to help address challenges on farming, portable drinking water, subsidised farming inputs, unemployment,  poultry farming, promoting cultural heritage.

They charged the Minister to use his esteemed office to support the Queen mothers by organising workshops to educate and build their capacity on conflict resolution,  peace building among others for the benefit of Oti region.

Hon. Gyapong announced to the Queen mothers that Biakoye and Krachi East districts in the region are been earmarked to roll-out 7200 hectares of land for implementation of the irrigation project.

He reiterated that President John Dramani Mahama’s led government aims15,000 youth are expected to be employed across all the regions in the country, and assured the Queen mothers that employment of youth is underway.

He reaffirmed the commitment of President John Dramani Mahama government to working with women to ensure gender equality and with the aim to rollout the women’s Bank initiatives to employ only women.

The delegation was led by the Paramount Queen Mother and Chairperson of Buem State Queen Mothers,  Nana Apewbea III; others are Nana Okrebea II, Nana Buasumaa I, Nana Adzewaa II, Nana Boatemaa III, Nana Adjeibea Adjeibea, Nana Ochadebea II, Nana Gbadowea, Nana Bukawea II, Nana Okunubea, Okyemewaa Rose Danteh and Mrs Patience Smile Dane.

The board members were drawn from representatives of the nine Municipal and district Assemblies, Institute of Surveyors, Ghana National Association of Fishermen and Farmers, Regional House of Chiefs and Regional Lands Commission.

The board governed with a prescribed mandate to manage both private and public lands in the region.

This inauguration  marks a milestone for the development of the oti region and commended President John Dramani Mahama for hearing the plea of the people of Oti region in giving them a regional lands commission office.

Hon. Gyapong  cautioned the members against the use of their mandate to serve their parochial interest and the ministry will not hesitate to crack the whips on individual who may fall short to the laws.

He urged the board to hold stakeholders to promote sustainable land use and work to ensure lands are used economically.

The Regional Minister admonished the board to work tirelessly for a unity of purpose and ensure fair and equitable distribution of lands and spatial use  in the region.

The Board chaired by Nana Mprah Besemuna III with other members including Yaw Acheampong Amoah, Gazekpo Emmanuel, Felix Kwamla Seloame and Nana Akoto Musakyi III.

Other members of the board are Cyril Gadegbeku, John Mark Bekoe, Anebo Philip Kwaku, Akoporwiah Nathaniel, Ladzi Emmanuel, George Grant Dogli, Nana Sampson Fordjour, Richard Opoku, Fankibi Joseph, Silas Atikpo Brownson and Musah Mumuni Basit.

The Oti Regional Minister appeal to every resident to remain calm, exercise restraint, and channel grievances through the established peace-building mechanisms. Please note that the ban on carrying arms, ammunition, or offensive weapons is still in force anyone found in breach will face arrest and prosecution.

Let’s work together to safeguard the peace and security of our beloved Oti Region.

Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong

Oti Regional Minister

He deeply appreciate Nana Ayeng Anebo II’s unwavering dedication to peace and development. His call for adherence to constitutional principles in chieftaincy matters and transparency in revenue management aligns with our shared vision for a stable and thriving Oti Region. In response, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong assured the delegation of his commitment to investigating concerns around Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and pledged to work closely with traditional leaders to ensure accountability and fairness in resource allocation. Additionally, they revisited critical infrastructure projects, including the Nkwanta-Kpassa road and the Agenda 111 hospital, which remain key priorities under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

This engagement was a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between traditional leadership and government. He was grateful for the opportunity to bridge gaps, acknowledge past oversights, and reaffirm my dedication to inclusive governance. Together, we will build a stronger and more prosperous Oti Region!

The rest were Safo Nketia of Krachi East; Prosper Addo of Krachi West; Joseph Antwi of Nkwanta-South, and Isaiah Dordoe for Nkwanta North.

Messrs. Parke-Davis Magyigbe, of Jasikan, and Godfried Koffie of Guan scored 86 and 79 per cent respectively.

Before the confirmation process of the MDCEs at each of the assemblies, the government appointees of the assembly members were sworn into office by a Magistrate or Judge to constitute a full assembly. Assemblies without presiding members subsequently elected their respective Presiding Members (PM) before confirmation.

The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, in his remarks at Jasikan as the first assembly to confirm her MCE in Oti appealed to the assembly members not to hesitate to give the nominee hundred per cent (100%) confirmation to set the tone for the rest of the assemblies in Oti Region to emulate.    

He has been present at each of the assemblies, coordinated and monitored the confirmation process with the message that, the assembly members should vote responsibly to enable him to have the needed support to develop the region. 

At each assembly, he said since the municipals and districts were where development starts from, they should put aside partisan consideration and vote responsibly on competency line.

Mr Gyapong said the Oti Region was a baby, and as such they had to come together and put their shoulders to the wheel to stimulate its total development.“Development does not know any political party so you should unite to make the Oti Region the winner,” he said.

He gave the assurance that his doors were open to everyone to ensure the successful implementation of government programmes and policies.

Hon. Gyapong always ended his remarks by tasking the newly confirmed MDCEs to work hard and closely with the people of their various assemblies to ensure the resetting of Ghana.

The MDCEs in their acceptance remarks thanked the assembly for reposing confidence in them through the confirmation and also pledged to listen, learn and strive to ensure development in their various MDAs and Oti at large.

Conclusively, the confirmation of MDCEs in Oti Region ended on Wednesday April 9, 2025 at Biakoye District,

They lamented the fact that the Oti Region currently has no Category A school, and only a few institutions are in Category B leaving the majority in Category C. This, they explained, severely affects the calibre of students posted to the region, as top-performing students often choose Category A schools and are automatically placed elsewhere. CHASS pleaded for support in securing the needed facilities and improvements to help upgrade at least some of our schools to Category A status.

In response, He assured them of my full commitment to this cause that He will personally tour all SHSs and SHTSs in the region to gain firsthand insight into their needs. He also emphasized the need to groom excellence from the basic level, organize inter-school academic competitions, and intensify school selection awareness so that more students can confidently choose Oti-based schools.

He further encouraged heads to deepen parental involvement and take ownership of promoting their institutions. With the right leadership, upgraded infrastructure, and strong collaboration, we can raise the academic profile of our schools and retain our top-performing students within the region.

He remain committed to forwarding all these concerns to the Minister for Education and H.E. President John Dramani Mahama. Together, we will push for the completion of key projects and the provision of critical resources. Oti deserves Category A schools and with unity and determination, we will get there.

The media team proposed several areas of collaboration, including improved access to information from the Regional Coordinating Council, proactive sharing of the Minister’s itinerary to support accurate reporting, and efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation related to government work. They also called for more frequent engagement with the media to raise the profile of the region and suggested partnering with the RCC to provide training and capacity-building opportunities for journalists, especially in light of the limited presence of the Ghana Journalists Association in Oti.

Hon. Gyapong welcomed the visit and commended the Alliance for taking the initiative to reach out. He agreed that transparency and media visibility were crucial to effective governance and instructed his Public Relations Officer to begin sharing his weekly itinerary with the Alliance to enhance information flow and public accountability. However, he also raised concerns about the high cost of media coverage in the region, noting that limited budgetary allocations often made consistent engagement a challenge. He mentioned that some media personnel had previously expressed frustration over delayed allowances following RCC assignments, and he urged for more strategic media relations that balance transparency with responsible reporting.

The Minister also shared his vision for development in the region, including plans to explore mineral deposits and water bodies for potential economic use, and the establishment of a cassava processing factory as part of efforts to drive local industrialization. He emphasized that these initiatives were part of his broader commitment to supporting the national development agenda and creating sustainable jobs for the people of Oti.

In closing, Hon. Gyapong expressed his willingness to work closely with the media and encouraged the Alliance to continue playing a constructive role in regional development. He reiterated his belief that with collaboration, honesty, and mutual respect, the media can serve as a powerful ally in advancing the goals of the region.

The meeting ended on a positive note, setting the stage for stronger cooperation between the Oti Regional Coordinating Council and the media community, with a shared vision of promoting good governance, development, and accountability.

The meeting served as a platform to discuss potential areas of collaboration between GIZ and the region, particularly in climate resilience, spatial data mapping, and sustainable development planning. Both parties expressed a shared commitment to deepening their partnership for the benefit of the people of Oti.

This engagement formed part of a broader initiative, including a hands-on training session organised for selected staff of the Regional Coordinating Council(RCCs), Municipal and District Assemblies(MDAs). The training which focused on climate hazards and thematic mapping, aimed at strengthening local capacity in environmental planning and disaster preparedness.

The ORCC extends its appreciation to GIZ for their continued support and looks forward to fruitful collaborations in the months ahead.

The Honorable Minister reminded them that as chief executives, they have a critical role to play in delivering the benefits of good governance to the people. He encouraged them to be innovative, proactive, and responsive to the needs of their constituents, ensuring that the dividends of democracy are equitably distributed.

He also emphasized the importance of creating job opportunities for the youth in their respective districts. As leaders, we have a responsibility to empower the next generation, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

To achieve this, He encouraged the MDCEs to collaborate with stakeholders, including traditional leaders, opinion leaders, and the private sector, to identify and support initiatives that promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong charged the MDCEs to remain committed to our party’s values of social justice, equality, and prosperity for all. Let us work together to build a better future for Ghana, a future that is bright, prosperous, and just for all citizens.

The ultimate is to RESET OTI together!

“Our conflict is not about chieftaincy disputes or land disputes; the parties would have sought redress from the legitimate authorities,” he said.

The chief explained that the development started as a result of a festival which had always been celebrated until the unscrupulous individuals decided to disagree.

He revealed how some criminal gangs are making monies from the shooting and killing and burning houses in the area and proposed a neutral body to engage both parties.

He blamed the law enforcement agencies for not providing enough security to protect lives and properties in the area.

He proposed to the minister to summon the parties involved in the matter for a roundtable discussion to allow all to bring their grievances to bring to the disturbances to a logical conclusion for peace to prevail.

The Regional Minister, Hon John Kwadwo Gyapong, lauded the chiefs for calling on him and commended them for their efforts towards peace building in the area.

He indicated that elders are not much involved in the disturbances but the youth. He observed the presence of enough security personnel would have averted the challenges.

Hon. Gyapong assured the chiefs of his commitment to taking steps to resolve the conflict in Nkwanta South Municipality to allow peace and tranquillity.

He said the recent development is a disgrace to the municipality and needed to be looked at with speed.

He recounted how investors from Netherlands had expressed interest in executing project in Nkwanta South but had to withdraw their interest due to the disturbance in the area.

He said the conflict is derailing the development of the area and called on both parties to lay down their arms and smoke the peace pipe.

He observed “if the observation of a festival would disturb the peace of the area and lead to loss of lives, then the chiefs should cease the festival celebrations. We’ll not allow festival to bring down development in Nkwanta; festivals are rather meant to bring development.  I will convene a congress for all youth in Nkwanta for the sake of peace in the area” he said.

He announced that the conflict had taken a heavy toll on the resources of the Municipal Assembly making it extremely difficult for the Assembly to honour her commitments.

Present at the engagement included the Oti Regional Coordinating Director, Rev Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, Nkwanta South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Joseph Antwi, and some other staff of the Coordinating Council. The rest are, Nana Bayan Asanyo III, Bamuhene of Akyode Traditional Area; Okyeame Dare Kwaku, Okyeame Anasan Kyerewura, Nkwanta Queen mother, Nana Atabaso Obonmelesu; Abrewankor Junction Queen mother, Nana Atogesen; Nana Atabaso Anetoge and Peter Ntasah, Akyode National Youth president.

He however called on the gazetted members of the house to expedite actions in resolving the remaining chieftaincy disputes in the region.

He explained that in time past, the people of Oti region had been fighting for a region of its own but had achieved their ambition and there is the need for them to come together to build the region together for development.

Hon. Gyapong reiterated the commitment of government to complete the regional house of chief offices project across the newly calved out regions across the country.

“Chieftaincy disputes are real, we as politicians can not interfere in chieftaincy matters but to support the chiefs in peace building,” he said.

Through Big Push programme,  the Minister  mentioned that government made a budgetary allocation for the construction of bridge over Oti river in Dambai and works will soon commence to open up the region for easy access for transportation and bring development in the region.

He said the contractors are been asked to return to site for the construction of Kpassa – Nkwanta eastern corridor roads and work will soon commence.

Hon. Gyapong informed the chiefs that government is committed in establishing irrigation project in the region and works is expected to commence by May this year.

He said government will also build a water treatment plant project in Dambai to ensure portable drinking water is available for the all in the region.

For his part, the Oti Regional House of Chiefs President, Nana Soglo Alloh IV informed the minister that there are about 26 members of the Regional House of Chiefs which includes 26 traditional areas but the active members of the house are 14 with the rest facing chieftaincy litigation and yet to be gazetted.

He pleaded with minister to ensure the ORCC allocate budget for house of chiefs to run its activities adding that their office had been given two vehicles including a land cruiser and a pickup but one of vehicles had accident and need to be replaced.

The Chiefs congratulated the minister for his nomination and charged government to expedite development in peaceful areas and leave conflict prone areas.

For Kadjebi Akan, the president of the house said has about eight (8) paramount chiefs and are members of the house but five (5) chiefs are not active members because of the chieftaincy disputes.

The chiefs bemoaned the lack of consultation of traditional leaders on the appointment of government appointee assembly members in each district.

The President of the house told the Minister that paramount chiefs from traditional areas including Akpafo, Dapaa, Pampawie, Papase, Nchumuru, Asato, Kadjebi,  Buem Bowiri, Worawora and Pia-Katanga were not represented in the house following disputes in the areas.

Present at the engagement meeting includes the President of the Oti RHC Nana Soglo Alloh IV; Vice president, Nana Obonbo Sewurah Lupuwura II; Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Okoforobour Baffour Kwame Asante II, Okogyeaman Kwasi Asiedu Korum II, Dasebre Oduro-Guranim I, Nana Odam Gyamfi III, and Nana Tidibo Kowura Odamba II.

In introducing the Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director (RCD), Rev Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo noted that the minister assumed office about four months ago and have been able to cover the antinary of the ORCC as part of his job schedule.

The Minister, he said is the fourth Minister in the regional and his outfit was the seventh RCD and underscored the need to cooperate with the Minister to work with him.

To RCD, the Minister is workaholic and is however determined to enhance the face of the ORCC to stem the development of the region.

In his remarks the minister indicated that his outfit was expected to meet about 75 staff but 44 staff were present hence the need to prospone the meeting until the absent staff were present.

He lamented how some heads of the department were engaged in accepting permission from subordinates without the approval of the Regional coordinating Council.

He noted that he had prior information that most of the staff of ORCC were afraid to speak adding that the institution was not properly run and lacks discipline.

The Minister directed the management of the ORCC to give a query to staff who failed to attend the staff durbar.

The Minister posed several questions to the staff such as, “What is wrong,  why are you not serious with your work and why are you not encouraged to work?”

To staff, lack of motivation, unfair treatment and witch-hunting of staff, lack of inclusiveness in the management, ineffective line of authority and chain of command, poor sanitation practice, and lack of priority of staff at office.

He encouraged the staff to speak up and shun the bureaucracy and bad practice of the leadership which he said will continue to affect the productivity of the council.

Hon. Gyapong reiterated that his outfit was not interested in intimidating political opponents but to bring them closure hence his reason of not transferring the staff from the council to the assemblies.

He said his outfit cannot afford to loose Oti region for anybody hence his forefathers will not forgive him and anybody with the attempt to joke with Oti region’s development will not have it easy.

The Minister admonished the staff to reassess themselves to resume their work properly before he begins to show colours by cracking the whips on the staff.

He assured the staff and management of the ORCC of his commitment to work and transform the region.

Hon. Gyapong charged the staff to report directly to him issues that affects productivity and their well-being to be addressed promptly.

The Minister urged parents to prioritise education over child labour, highlighting the long-term benefits of education in improving the lives of children and their families.

The Oti Region has a high incidence of child labour, particularly in fishing and cocoa communities, where children are often engaged in hazardous work that compromises their health and education.

The “My Rights, My Future” project aims to strengthen child protection committees, support teachers and schools, and engage parents and community leaders in promoting positive social norms and advocating for better laws to protect children.

Mr Gyapong has assured the “My Rights, My Future” project of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) support in combating child labour and trafficking.

In a closed engagement with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Minister pledged to work closely with the ORCC to ensure the success of the project in the three selected Municipal and District Assemblies.

In his solidarity message, the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong whipped the Assembly members to rally behind the nominee by giving him a unanimous endorsement.

He bemoaned how some members of the party made a press conference threatening the party hierarchy for lack of appointment in their tribe, and urged the aggrieved party supporters to exercise patience as government will soon shine on them.

He called on the leaders of Ntroubo to call the organisers of the press conference to order and failure to, will mean that his outfit have be ejected from the Ntroubo tribe of the Nkwanta south.

Mr Gyapong underscored the need for the people of the Nkwanta south municipality to embrace unity of purpose to bring peace and security in order for sustainable socio-economic growth.

The Minister encouraged the assembly members to vote massively to acclaim the president’s nominee to propel development in the area.

On his part, the Member of Parliament (MP), Hon Geoffrey Kini, thanked the president for his goodwill of nominating a candidate with the interest to articulate the mission and the vision of the government.

He indicated that the role of a leader is important and cannot be estimated hence it is eminent for the people of Nkwanta South Municipality to have a leader.

He described the nominee, Joseph Antwi, as humble, respectful, committed, and a servant leader and his experience will enable him discharge his duties diligently and called on the members to take queue from other Assemblies acclaim the nominee.

Presiding Member for Nkwanta South, Hon Edward Yilengne, urged the Assembly members to make a decision that will have a positive impact on the Nkwanta south municipality.

He indicated that the members of the municipality have an emblem of unity and are poised to make decision that reflects the interest of their various communities in the electoral areas.

Prior to the confirmation, some 13 government appointee assembly members were sworn into office to augment the elected members to facilitate the confirmation of the MCE nominee.

In his acceptance remarks, the new MCE, commended the President John Dramani Mahama for entrusting in him the confidence and promised to align with the reset agenda of government.

He pledged to uphold a zero tolerance for crime but promote peace and development to ensure sustainable growth rate in the Municipality.

Mr Antwi indicated that peace does not mean the absence of war but justice and accountability. He said the was the need for collaboration between institutions to champion sustainable agriculture and agroprocessing to create jobs.

He called for innovative solutions to inspire partnerships to bring development to the forefront of the municipality and government at large.

The new MCE served the party in various capacities such as the Nkwanta south constituency Communications officer and the director of elections for the party earning him the opportunity to be nominated into his current position.

Present at the confirmation event were the regional minister, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong, regional and constituency executives of the party, Nkwanta South Member of Parliament, Hon. Geoffrey Kini, Chief Director of ORCC, Rev Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo and ORCC entourage, traditional leaders and the staff of the Nkwanta south Municipal Assembly as well as some party faithful’s.

He championed a peace and unity for purpose campaign arguing that the role of the MDCEs in the region is to fast track development and promote sustainable socio-economic activities in their respective localities.

The Oti Regional Minister Hon John Kwadwo Gyapong in his remarks said he has seen unity in the PM election and appealed to the members to also vote hundred percent for the MCE nominee just as Krachi East and Krachi Nchumuru respectively.

For his part, the Municipality Coordinating Director for the assembly in his speech lamented on their inability to get a presiding Member last year and urged the members to demonstrate to the Oti Region and Ghana that they are capable of addressing their own challenges by electing a PM today to aid the confirmation of the MCE nominee.

He appealed to members to approach this election and confirmation process with fairness and respect and remember that the people of Krachi West Municipal are united by their shared goals of serving the best interest of their electoral areas.

The Members of Parliament for Krachi West, Hon. Ntoso Hellen spoke to the assembly members about of the party’s vision of resetting the nation and Krachi West Municipal Assembly and thanked the stakeholders for their efforts in the 2024 general elections.

Conclusively, the members declared a popular acclamation for the MCE nominee Mr Prosper Kwaku Addo as the MCE for Krachi West Municipal Assembly.

After the acclamation, the Krachi West MCE Prosper Kwaku Addo in his acceptance remarks said he was going to be a servant to the people of Krachi West Municipality and not just an MCE and appealed to the assembly members to assist him in every aspect of the assembly business in order to deliver.

Present there were the Oti Regional Minister Hon John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Coordinating Director Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, Krachi wura Nana Mprah Besemuna 111 of Krachi Traditional Council, NDC Regional party executives, some heads of departments from ORCC, staff of Krachi West Municipal Assembly.