Lawra Municipal Assembly sets ambitious 2027 agenda covering schools, farms and security

The Lawra Municipal Assembly in the Upper West Region has signalled a determined push for grassroots development, following its third ordinary meeting where officials laid out a comprehensive plan covering education, agriculture, security and social protection heading into 2027. The gathering brought together the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Cecilia Soyele Nuratu, and the Member of Parliament for Lawra, Bede Anwataazumo Ziedeng, alongside key stakeholders to review progress and chart the way forward.

Education investments take centre stage

One of the most striking announcements from the meeting concerned the scale of financial support being channelled into education at all levels. MP Ziedeng revealed that his office has disbursed more than GH¢785,000 in partial scholarships to over 660 tertiary students since the start of his first term in office — a figure that reflects a significant personal commitment to keeping young people from the municipality in higher education.

The individual scholarship grants have also been raised, climbing from GH¢1,000 to GH¢2,000 for the period spanning January 2025 to October 2026, with more than 165 students benefiting from the increase. At the pre-tertiary level, the MP funded mock examinations for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates at a cost of GH¢84,000 in 2026, and spent an additional GH¢11,172 providing meals for students of Brifoh Senior High School during their examination period.

The Assembly itself has been working to improve the physical learning environment. MCE Nuratu confirmed the procurement and distribution of school furniture, including 260 mono desks, 250 dual desks and 100 tables with chairs, intended to ease classroom conditions across the municipality's schools.

Agriculture, health alerts and security concerns

Lawra's farming communities reported generally positive harvests, though late rains disrupted some crops — groundnuts in particular suffered. In response, the government rolled out a package of agricultural interventions: free fertiliser, drip irrigation equipment and 10,000 chicks were distributed to farmers. However, the MCE flagged a worrying mortality rate among the poultry distributed, raising questions about whether post-distribution veterinary support is adequate to ensure beneficiaries actually gain from the scheme.

On public health, municipal hospital management has urged residents to remain alert following reports of yellow fever outbreaks in neighbouring districts. Authorities are asking anyone who develops acute fever or jaundice to report promptly to the nearest health facility, as surveillance has been stepped up to prevent the disease from spreading into Lawra.

Security is also under scrutiny. Despite the municipality being described as generally peaceful, two robbery incidents along the Nandom road have prompted concern. Police arrested two suspects and recovered a weapon, though the principal suspect remains at large. Security agencies are expected to intensify both daytime and night patrols, particularly as the festive season and the funeral rites of the late Paramount Chief of Lawra approach — periods that typically draw large crowds and can strain local security resources.

Why it matters for Ghana

Lawra's experience mirrors challenges felt across many of Ghana's rural municipalities: underfunded schools, weather-dependent farming, stretched social protection systems and security pressures on major roads. The Assembly's deliberate effort to present a 2027 composite budget, fee-fixing resolution and annual action plan at this meeting is a positive sign of structured local governance, even as infrastructure gaps persist — the delayed 24-hour economy market project being a case in point, with the Ministry of Local Government now reviewing the contractor's agreement to rescue it.

The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme's expansion is equally significant: approximately 4,700 beneficiaries are being onboarded in Lawra alone, underscoring how heavily communities in Upper West Region rely on social safety nets. Meanwhile, the Assembly has confirmed receipt of GH¢294,840 to clear outstanding allowance arrears for Assembly members — a step that, if sustained, should improve morale and participation among local representatives.

• MP Ziedeng has disbursed over GH¢785,000 in scholarships to more than 660 tertiary students.
• Around 4,700 residents are being enrolled onto the LEAP social protection programme in Lawra.
• Yellow fever surveillance has intensified following outbreaks reported in neighbouring districts.