Sekyere Afram Plains District

Hon. Abubakar Issaka, District Chief Executive (DCE)-Sekyere Afram Plains District

About Sekyere Afram Plains District

Hon. Abubakar Issaka: Bridging Grassroots Leadership and Governance in Sekyere Afram Plains

In the heart of Ghana’s Ashanti Region, the Sekyere Afram Plains District is undergoing a transformative phase under the leadership of Hon. Abubakar Issaka. Serving as both the NDC Constituency Chairman and the District Chief Executive (DCE), his dual role embodies a unique fusion of political insight and administrative authority. Hon. Issaka’s emergence as DCE has been particularly impactful given his roots in the Samso area of the Dawia Zone, a community within the Drobonso enclave.

His appointment has been embraced by many who see it as a move toward aligning grassroots mobilization with district-level execution, although some voices from the Anyinofi area have expressed interest in greater regional balance in leadership.

Sekyere Afram Plains District was officially carved out in March 2012 through Legislative Instrument 2114. With Drobonso as its administrative capital, the district spans over 2,450 square kilometers, making it the largest in the Ashanti Region by land area. It shares boundaries with Kwahu Afram Plains North in the Eastern Region, Atebubu-Amantin and Sene East in the Bono East Region, and Sekyere Central within the Ashanti Region. The district is entirely rural, with a population of about 32,640. Its demographic composition includes a rich mix of ethnicities such as Akans, Mamprusis, Kusasis, and Dagombas. Literacy rates are modest, and the average household size is approximately 5.3, indicating a strong communal structure.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy, engaging more than 88% of residents. Fertile lands support the cultivation of crops like maize, cassava, rice, cocoa, citrus, mango, and oil palm, while livestock farming, particularly cattle and poultry, continues to expand. Infrastructure challenges persist, especially in water access and road connectivity, but recent strides in education, sanitation, and market development signal progress.

Since assuming office, Hon. Issaka has championed several development initiatives, including the commissioning of a modern junior high school block in Mempekasa. The facility includes furnished classrooms, a staff common room, and a head teacher’s office, designed to enhance academic performance and promote discipline. Beyond education, Hon. Issaka has been instrumental in advancing participatory governance. Through the collaborative efforts of the Vision for Action Foundation, the District Assembly, and the District Planning Coordinating Unit, residents from all four zonal areas—Drobonso, Hamidu, Dawia, and Anyinofi—were actively engaged in shaping the district’s Medium-Term Development Plan.

These engagements prioritized sanitation, water access, electrification, and classroom construction. The initiative aligns with CDD-Ghana’s “I Am Aware” program, which promotes public involvement in monitoring service delivery across key sectors.

Hon. Abubakar Issaka’s leadership represents a pivotal moment for Sekyere Afram Plains. By bridging political advocacy with administrative stewardship, he is fostering a model of governance that is both inclusive and locally responsive—one that holds promise for sustainable development and citizen-centered progress.