Governance

1.8.1 Political and Administrative Structures
a) The Municipal Assembly
Kwahu South Municipal Assembly is one of the thirty- three (33) Assemblies in Eastern Region. It was elevated to the Municipal status on 27th November 2020. The Kwahu South Municipal Assembly was established under the Local Governance Act, 2016, (Act 936) with Legislative Instrument (L.I 2419).   
It has twenty-six (26) electoral areas which consist of 26 elected Assembly Members (25 males and 1 female), 12 government appointees (10 males and 2 females), a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the constituency, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and 130 Unit Committee members. 

b) Sub-District Structures
There were Six (6) Zonal Councils, namely – Mpraeso-Atibie-Obomeng, Obo-Twenedurase, Bepong, Asakraka, Adawso and Kwahu Praso. The Mpraeso-Atibie-Obomeng Zonal Council has office accommodation while efforts are being made to provide the others with office accommodation.

1.8.2 Traditional Authority
The institution of chieftaincy plays a vital role as a Traditional Authority. Abene is the seat of the Paramount Chief who have five sub-divisional chiefs directly responsible to him in the governance of the people in the communities of Kwahu as a whole.  The Kwahu Traditional Council office is located at Mpraeso the Municipality capital. 

These are the five sub-divisions of the Kwahu Traditional Areas Kwahu Traditional Area: 
• Adonteng, with its seat at Abetifi
• Nifa, with its seat at Obo.
• Benkum, with its seat at Aduamoah 
• Kyidom, with its seat at Pepease 
• Gyaase, with its seat at Atibie

Under the sub-divisions are Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Sub-Chiefs and Adikrofo who are heads of the settler communities on behalf of him.

1.8.3. NGOs, CSOs and CBOs  
The Municipal Assembly collaborates with a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations in undertaking its development activities. These organizations include local or community-based groups and organizations that operate beyond the boundaries of the Municipality and even to the international level.
The activities of the some of the NGOs have resulted in the formation of community-based groups or committees that are charged with specific functions relative to their area of operation. 

1.8.4 Citizen Participation in Governance and Development
It has been recognized that development should be in response to the priority needs of the citizenry and that it is a shared responsibility. The Assembly performs its roles in close collaboration with the traditional authorities, civil society organizations and the private sector. Citizenry participation approach has increased the people’s responsiveness to Assembly intervention towards addressing the peoples felt needs. This approach has raised the people’s responsiveness to their task and other civil obligations and enhances revenue collection by the Assembly. The Assembly involves the various groups under the civic union including market woman, and Chiefs in its fee fixing and budgeting activities. For the communities to participate effectively in project identification and development the Assembly organized public hearing to enable stakeholders and citizens to deliberate and build consensus on the projects and programmes which constitute their felt needs. 

Figure 1.12 Governance and Security Map of Kwahu South Municipality

Source: KSMA MPUC, 2021