January 2, 2026, Hon. Joseph Agyekum, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Ellembelle District, assured the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council (ENTC) of the Assembly’s commitment to accelerating development in the district. He highlighted that during the first year of President John Dramani Mahama’s second term, the Assembly had established a strong foundation as part of the decentralization process, aided by the timely release of a significant District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to boost local development. During a meeting with the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, Hon. Agyekum provided an update on the District Assembly’s achievements, discussed future prospects, and explored ways for the Assembly and the Traditional Council to work more closely together in managing local affairs. The meeting took place under the leadership of Awulae Blay IX, the Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area and President of the Traditional Council. Hon. Agyekum expressed gratitude to the Council for its support, which has fostered peace, love, unity, and stability, all essential for driving the district’s rapid socio-economic development.
The DCE mentioned that when he took office, he and the Member of Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, noticed that many school buildings in the area were in very poor condition. As a result, they committed to building new ones. To tackle this issue, the Assembly, in partnership with the MP’s office, has constructed six new classroom blocks to improve educational infrastructure. Additionally, Hon. Joseph Agyekum stated that health centers have also been built to meet the healthcare needs of the community. Regarding the road situation, the DCE pointed out that the poor condition of roads in farming areas had made it difficult for food to reach market centers. Fortunately, the roads leading to these communities are now passable. He further noted that plans are underway to reconstruct major roads in the Nzema area, including the Teleku-Bokazo–Salma road and the Teleku-Bokazo–Aiyinasi road, which have been reshaped and are awaiting asphalt surfacing. A contractor has been hired to repair the damaged bridge at Ebi, which will help improve travel between Teleku-Bokazo and Aiyinasi. On the telecommunications front, the DCE reported that the MP has helped facilitate the installation of four telecommunication masts, which will soon be operational in Atuabo, Aluku, Adubrim, and Aidoo-Suazo. Hon. Joseph Agyekum also shared that the government has released part of the funding for a 24-hour market that is set to be built in Aiyinasi, which will include a police post, a fire service station, a health center, and a daycare center. Lastly, he mentioned that the Assembly has finalized negotiations with a development partner from the European Union for the construction of an Ellembelle District Hospital in Nkroful, scheduled for 2026.
In an effort to combat the galamsey issue, the DCE announced that the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has officially launched the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP) in Anwia/Teleku-Bokazo, which aims to create jobs for six thousand (6,000) young people. This new mining initiative will also extend to towns like Salma, Nkroful, Bomoakpole, Akropong, and Kikam, with the goal of transitioning unemployed youth away from illegal and irresponsible mining practices, commonly known as galamsey. Hon. Joseph Agyekum highlighted that the Mahama administration had successfully employed over seven hundred (700+) youth across various sectors in the Ellembelle District in 2025. The DCE further mentioned that the government has finalized negotiations for the construction of Phase Two of the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo and has reached an agreement with a silica company to set up a glass factory in the Ellembelle District, thereby expanding job opportunities in the region. The DCE took the opportunity at the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council meeting to encourage stakeholders to work together in unity to drive the area’s development.
By Nzematoday TV
