DDA RADIO STATIONS DISCUSSIONS
Thursday, 30 November 2017
Thursday, 19 October 2017
Tuesday, 17 October 2017
WELCOME TO DEGA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
October 4, 2017
Ladies and gentlemen, we have our ‘fathers and senior
colleagues’ on this platform with us. They have not left us, the younger generation,
to our fate. They have responded to the call of duty and service and are here with
us, likewise colleague friends and family. With all protocols observed, and for
the purpose of this address, we would refer to ourselves as Comrades.
In the events
of 1 Samuel 17:28-30 which happens to be the beginning of the end of Goliath,
David said in verse 29, and I quote “…Is there not a cause?” In our state of need,
we join David in asking the same question: Is there not a cause? Why do we have
to disturb the peace of our senior colleagues when they have already paid their
fair share of social responsibility to our communities? Why do we take time off
our busy schedules as young people to think about our community and the
heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestry when the world out there is not
waiting for us; when it appears that everyone is for himself and God is for us
all? Our Goliath stares us in the face at every turn, both as young people and
as old folks alike. It stares the faces of our parents who have laboured to
provide for our comfort. Our Goliath continually whip the fatherless, the
orphaned, the disabled, the uneducated, and most importantly, the less
privileged! Our Goliath manifests in
several forms: from armed robbery menace to poor sanitation and healthcare. As
a people, none of us have escaped the debilitating effects of our presently underdeveloped
state. Of course, there is a Cause! The development of the Deg people is the
cause. It is this noble cause that bids us to come together to collectively
define and change our destiny as Deg People.
Friends, our history is replete with instances when men
and women have offered themselves up for the greater good of our Dega
community. We have examples of our kinsmen who did physical battle; those that
served the community with their knowledge and abilities; those that assume the
path of litigation in the interest of our community; those that championed our
renaissance; the torch bearers that championed education, healthcare and so
forth. We are not the first people in the scheme of things to offer ourselves
to serve our community. And we would not be the last. In every age, the NEED is
different, but the resource requirement has always been the same: Human
Capital. But never in history has the Dega community had so exceptional human
resource; very talented, capable and accessible men and women; diverse in
knowledge, skills and abilities than our current generation. The proof is not
too far from us. In just one weekend, over a hundred scholars joined this
WhatsApp platform!
We would not be drawn into the age old controversy
of whether or not the present generation is better than the older generation.
In responding to a question regarding the subject matter, the wisest of
philosophers posed this question and answer series (See Shnayer Z. Leiman, Dwarfs on the Shoulders of Giants, Tradition,
Spring 1993):”Who sees farther, a dwarf or a giant? Surely a giant for his
eyes are situated at a higher level than those of a dwarf. But if the dwarf is
placed on the shoulders of the giant who sees farther? Surely the dwarf, for
now the eyes of the dwarf is situated at a higher level than those of the
giant. So too as dwarfs we astride the shoulders of giants. We master their wisdom and move beyond it.
Due to their wisdom we grow wise and are able to say all that we say but not
because we are greater than they”” In a similar circumstance, Isaac Newton (1676)
said “if I have seen far, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. We
recognise the immense insight that our senior colleagues, Traditional Authorities
and great political leaders can bring to this noble table, hence ‘our belief that
we are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants’. It will take the wise counsel of the
older generation, and the youthful energy of our youth to bring about the
change that we so much desire.
We believe you have read the introductory (Concept)
note as well as the proposed phasing of the development agenda. You would
recall from the introductory note that, the Dega development agenda shall be
championed by “individuals – drawn from
among the Dega community, academia, the
business community, clergy, politicians, public and civil service, students,
people with expertise in agriculture, etc - who understand that development
is not a chanced event, but a required obligation to act to bring about
development to Degbwe in the not-too distant future” You would further
recall that “these individuals would
reach out to the rest of Degbwe with a roadmap to development- a roadmap borne
out of extensive teamwork, research and consultation, - and these individuals
would work to garner the support of stakeholders and Dega towards the
achievement of the development agenda”. Two parameters are defined by the
above reference: The people and their role. You and I are the people; and our
role in this initial endeavour is well defined above. It means therefore that,
our presence or absence on this WhatsApp platform does not so much matter as
our commitment to duty. For only 254 people can be on this platform at a time,
but there are a thousand and one Dega scholars.
As already noted, the phasing of the development
agenda is but a PROPOSAL only. It represents the proposed form and direction
the development agenda should take as envisioned by the originators. It may be
altered, amended, or improved, but whatever new direction we choose to take
should keep the end result in mind. The rationale for the proposed phasing is
that;
·
We
need educated Dega people, such as gathered on this platform to champion the
cause, and to reach out to our various communities. We are thus expected to work
together to garner the support of various stakeholders out there in our home communities.
·
the entirety of the Dega people should be
involved in determining what constitutes development, and the form of development
we want in Degbwe; and
·
It
is only through scientific research that we can identify what as well as the
form of development required at Degbwe, and what interventions should be
designed to respond to the need.
As the stakeholder database continues to grow in the
preliminary data collection phase, we need to gear ourselves up for a
preliminary sensitization exercise in Degbwe. Suggestion as to its form, timing
and duration is needed to make it work. We can then use the preliminary data to
guide the research work ahead of us. Several roles shall become available to be
filled to make our endeavour a success. That is why we are all encouraged to
provide as much information as possible about our skills and abilities. For
example, it is not enough to simply state that one is say, a pharmacist. If the
one can read and write Deg Language for instance, then it is a capability worth
recording. In the same way, if one is an educationist, and is a good
communicator too, then it would be beneficial to make it known in order to
assist our community entry effort.
Friends, we are over a hundred and fifty on this
platform. Thanks to your support, it has been an overwhelming success bringing
together the vast array of professionals across Degbwe. Our number is only a
tip of the iceberg, but that is just what we need to start. We cannot afford to
wait any longer, lest we find ourselves swimming in the pool of analysis
paralysis. We need to make progress while we have the opportunity to do so. Colleagues,
you would agree that, there would be instances when we would disagree. Those
instances should not lead to severed relationships. Constructive conflicts are
beneficial, and in most cases they provide avenues for critical analysis of
options and ideas; and have been the causes of several innovations. When we
disagree, we are only being human. For the purposes of moderation of
discussions, we would propose a formal leadership structure. The structure
would be put up for discussion, and once adopted, it would be implemented on
our WhatsApp platform only.
We would also like to draw attention to the fact
that the Dega Development Agenda is NOT
intended to be a formally registered entity. At best, it is to be seen as a
project, a key deliverable of which is the establishment of a Programme
Implementation Unit (PIU), a formal organisation to kick-start the
implementation of the various interventions that shall be identified by the
research. This Dega Development Agenda, as a project, would be disbanded when
the vision is realised. As such only the PIU may need to be registered. But we
are not there yet. Please feel free to propose any change you deem necessary
for deliberations.
We need every
individual or entity in this adventure we have set ourselves for; politicians, Chiefs,
Assembly Members, the clergy, etc. Consequently, it’s important to remember
that each category of people could be an asset or a liability depending on how
we relate to them in this exercise. We would therefore appeal to individuals to
be circumspect in how we all use this platform. Candidly, the Dega Development
Agenda is not a political
organisation. It is not a cultural
organisation. It is not a government
agency. It is not a pressure group. It
is not an NGO. It would however need
the support of all these listed organisations to realise its overarching goal.
Let the politicians, the Clergy, the chiefs, the Assemblymen, etc., not neglect
to do their calling, but let us also recognise and respect the neutrality of
the platform and what it represents.
Friends, like God
delivered Goliath into the hands of David, may this same God smile on our
collective efforts and deliver development into our hands; and into the hands
of our sons and daughters. Together we shall rise and succeed.
Thank you.
Friday, 13 October 2017
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
About
the Dega Development Agenda (DDA)
Q: What is the Dega Development Agenda?
• The Dega Development Agenda
(DDA) is a plan to accelerate the
pace of economic and human developments in Degbwe.
• DDA will leverage on the
collective wisdom of all Dega people to provide a roadmap for the development
of Dega and Degbwe.
The
people
Q: Is DDA a brainchild of Dega?
• Yes.
The idea to come up with a plan for the development of Degbwe was conceived and
supported by like-minded Dega.
Q: Who is eligible to be a part of DDA?
•
Any
like-minded individual with the desire and passion to support the development
of Dega and Degbwe in any form.
Q: What formal educational qualification does one need to be a part of
DDA?
•
Formal
education is NOT required to become a part of DDA
Q: I heard that DDA is a WhatsApp-based
group, and discussions and meetings are on WhatsApp. How can I become a
supporter of DDA if I don’t have a smartphone, or if I cannot read or write?
•
The Agenda is not restricted to only a
WhatsApp-based group. However, the medium due to its global reach in real time
communication was adopted to quickly disseminate the initial DDA-message, create
awareness amongst Dega across the globe and also canvass for its support and
acceptance.
• Only 254 members can be in a
WhatsApp group at a time, but the thousands of Dega out there who want to be
part of The Agenda but are not on WhatsApp can still do so through our
community outreach activities, research programmes, face-to-face meetings, etc.
Q:
Who owns DDA?
•
DDA
is owned by the People. The Agenda is borne out of a collective effort by
well-meaning Dega to collaborate and produce a point-based plan for the economic
and human development of Degbwe.
Q: What are the key attributes of the people who support DDA
• They
understand that development is not a chanced event.
• They
feel it is their obligation to act to bring about development to Degbwe in the
not-too distant future.
• They have the desire to support
the plan the best possible way they can.
Roles
of the people
Q: What role(s) will the individuals who support the agenda play?
•
They will work together in teams and as individuals
to spread the message of The Agenda
•
They will work to garner the support of relevant stakeholders
towards the achievement of the objectives of DDA
•
The individuals will also forge closer
collaboration with relevant stakeholders during the planning stage in order to
churn out an inclusive and broad-based consultative roadmap for implementation.
Q: Will one person or only a select group of people draw the roadmap?
•
The roadmap will be the
result of extensive teamwork, qualitative and quantitative researches vis-Ã -vis
a broad-based consultations.
The
specifics and parameters of The Agenda
Q: What are the specifics of The Agenda?
•
At
this initial stage, only the broad objective of coming up with a roadmap is
defined. The specifics and parameters of the development agenda will be
contained in the roadmap document for the development of Degbwe. This document will
be available after the research phase (find
more information in the section named DDA as a project).
Q: What will the roadmap consist of?
•
The
roadmap will be a report that documents:
i.
the
current state of economic and human developments in Degbwe;
ii.
where
Degbwe wants to be in the short, medium and long terms; and
iii.
plans,
strategies, and interventions to achieve (ii) above with identifiable
parameters and defined timeframes.
Stakeholders
and Beneficiaries
Q: Who are the Relevant Stakeholders?
•
All
the traditional authorities in Degbwe
•
The
people, particularly the youth, women, and children of Degbwe
•
Students
•
Dega
Representatives at the Assemblies , Local Councils and Unit Committees
•
MMDAs
•
Civil
Society and Community-Based Organisations (CSOs/CBOs) operating in or from Degbwe
•
International
Development Partners
•
Various
registered associations and cooperative societies in Degbwe
•
Businesses/Business-interests
in Degbwe
Q:
Who will use the report (roadmap) when it becomes available?
•
The
roadmap will be used to inform and influence policy at the MMDAs (Kintampo
North, Kintampo South, Bole-Bamboi and Wenchi)
•
Various
CSOs/CBOs wishing to setup in Degbwe will find it a valuable source of
information to inform their interventions
•
The
roadmap will not only be a referenced and credible database by Dega
entrepreneurs and other business people wishing to invest in Degbwe, but will
also help deliver informed investment strategies
•
The
formation of associations will be encouraged. These associations that will spring
up in Degbwe to take up various magnitudes of development projects will rely on
the roadmap
•
DDA
will setup a duly registered Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) in phase three
(3) of the project. The PIU will rely on the roadmap to source funding for
development projects in Degbwe
•
The
Chiefs and elders of our various towns and country sides will organise their community to tackle
various aspects of the proposed interventions
DDA as a project
Q: How will the objective of drawing up
the roadmap be realised?
•
DDA
is organised as a project
•
Several
dedicated young men and women will work together on the project in teams and
sub-teams. These teams will carry out both qualitative and quantitative researches
and conduct a broad-based and inclusive consultations toward the achievement of
the stated objectives,
Q: How many teams will work together on
DDA?
•
DDA
as a project is comprised of eight (8) teams
Q: Is the project phased?
•
Yes.
The project spans three (3) phases
Q: What will be done in each phase of the project?
•
Phase
1: Preliminary data collection
•
Phase
2: Research and Validation
•
Phase
3: Implementation
Q: What are the deliverables and milestones in each phase?
•
Phase
1
o
Visit
to ALL Dega towns/villages
o
Meetings
with stakeholders
o
Stakeholder
database
o
Plotting
all Dega towns/villages on google maps
•
Phase
2
o
Research
Report (Roadmap)
§ Baseline studies
§ Development expectations of
the future
§ Gaps, Strategies and
interventions
§ Validation of draft report
by key stakeholders
o
Launching
of report
o
Creation
of project website
•
Phase
3
o
Setting
up the Programme Implementation Unit and handing over assets to the Unit
Q: Is DDA an Association? Will the DDA implement development
initiatives?
•
No.
DDA is not an association, and it will not implement development initiatives.
•
Currently
there is no roadmap in place. Forming an association to implement development
initiatives will be premature.
The future of DDA
Q: What is the future of DDA?
•
DDA
will cease to exist at the close of the project when the roadmap has been
drawn.
Q: What entity will replace the DDA?
•
The
DDA will setup and duly register a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) in phase
three (3) of the project.
•
Among
others the PIU will rely on the roadmap to source funding for development
projects in Degbwe
Q: What will be transferred to the PIU by
the DDA in phase 3?
•
Account
balances
•
The
Report (the roadmap)
•
Organisational
assets (databases, maps, websites, document created during the DDA project phases)
Q: Will the PIU encourage the formation
of associations to implement development initiatives once the roadmap becomes
available?
•
Yes.
Once the research is completed and the roadmap becomes available, the PIU will encourage
the formation of associations in various quarters of Degbwe to undertake
development projects
Funding
Q: Has DDA already received any financial support to carry out its
work?
•
No.
DDA has neither contacted nor received financial support from any individual or
organisation for this work.
Q: What are the sources of funding for the project?
•
It
is anticipated that, the sources of funding for the project will be personal
contributions of DDA supporters in cash and in kind
•
Other
avenues/opportunities for funding shall be explored
Q: What will funds received be used for?
•
Funds
received will be judiciously used to carry out community outreach, research,
web hosting, and other activities related to the objectives of DDA.
•
Any
excess funding will be transferred to PIU
•
All
funds shall be accounted for
Thursday, 12 October 2017
PROPOSED PROJECT TEAMS AND ROLES
DEGA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA – PROPOSED PROJECT TEAMS AND ROLES
Sunday, 08 October 2017
This Project is proposed to be managed by seven (7) Teams led by the Project Team Leader and an Assistant as defined in the Team Structure on next page.
Each member of the group shall belong to at least one Team, with no member belonging to more than two Teams. The limit on the number of Team
membership is to ensure that workload is balanced, and to ease burden on Team members.
Teams shall be managed by Team Leaders whose functions would be to coordinate activities within the Team; to motivate Teams to work and produce
deliverables within stipulated timelines; to encourage discussions and idea sharing; to manage conflicts among and between Team members; to encourage
tolerance among members, and to promote network among members. Teams would have separate platforms for discussing Team issues; and the conduct
of affairs on such platforms shall not significantly deviate from the general principles guiding the mother platform. Guidelines on Team constitution shall be
developed to guide the process.
1.0 Project Team Leader/Assistant –
The project Team leader and the assistant shall maintain a bird’s eye view of the project, and provide direction to Team Leaders as required. It shall be
their responsibility to ensure that Teams stay the course and does not drift from the cardinal objective of the Dega Development Agenda.
1.1 Document Control Team
The Document Control Team shall develop procedures and processes for all document created by the project. The Team shall be responsible for
archiving and all document management functions within the project. This Team shall receive document on behalf of the project Team and circulated to
the responsible Team. The document Control Team shall also be the final point of review for any document created internally by any Team before it is
signed off by the Project Team Leader for delivery to third parties. This is to ensure the quality (consistency, uniformity, right content etc.) of project
documentation. The Team shall work together with the rest of the Teams in achieving their mandate.
1.2 Research Team
The research shall be responsible for the research design, data collection, analysis and reporting functions of the Dega development Agenda. The Team
shall produce and submit all reports covered in the list of deliverables.
Sunday, 08 October 2017
This Project is proposed to be managed by seven (7) Teams led by the Project Team Leader and an Assistant as defined in the Team Structure on next page.
Each member of the group shall belong to at least one Team, with no member belonging to more than two Teams. The limit on the number of Team
membership is to ensure that workload is balanced, and to ease burden on Team members.
Teams shall be managed by Team Leaders whose functions would be to coordinate activities within the Team; to motivate Teams to work and produce
deliverables within stipulated timelines; to encourage discussions and idea sharing; to manage conflicts among and between Team members; to encourage
tolerance among members, and to promote network among members. Teams would have separate platforms for discussing Team issues; and the conduct
of affairs on such platforms shall not significantly deviate from the general principles guiding the mother platform. Guidelines on Team constitution shall be
developed to guide the process.
1.0 Project Team Leader/Assistant –
The project Team leader and the assistant shall maintain a bird’s eye view of the project, and provide direction to Team Leaders as required. It shall be
their responsibility to ensure that Teams stay the course and does not drift from the cardinal objective of the Dega Development Agenda.
1.1 Document Control Team
The Document Control Team shall develop procedures and processes for all document created by the project. The Team shall be responsible for
archiving and all document management functions within the project. This Team shall receive document on behalf of the project Team and circulated to
the responsible Team. The document Control Team shall also be the final point of review for any document created internally by any Team before it is
signed off by the Project Team Leader for delivery to third parties. This is to ensure the quality (consistency, uniformity, right content etc.) of project
documentation. The Team shall work together with the rest of the Teams in achieving their mandate.
1.2 Research Team
The research shall be responsible for the research design, data collection, analysis and reporting functions of the Dega development Agenda. The Team
shall produce and submit all reports covered in the list of deliverables.
1.3 Finance & Administration Team
This Team shall be responsible for creating, managing and keeping all accounting records for the project. The Team shall furnish members with periodic
statements of receipts and expenditures as required. This Team shall implement procedures to log the hourly time commitment by members doing
specific work. The time commitments shall be converted to monetary equivalents and deemed as financial contributions by such members to the
project. The Team shall recognise and track all contributions (time, physical cash, etc.) and report periodically.
This Team shall be responsible for creating, managing and keeping all accounting records for the project. The Team shall furnish members with periodic
statements of receipts and expenditures as required. This Team shall implement procedures to log the hourly time commitment by members doing
specific work. The time commitments shall be converted to monetary equivalents and deemed as financial contributions by such members to the
project. The Team shall recognise and track all contributions (time, physical cash, etc.) and report periodically.
1.4 Project Controls & Support Team
The Team is responsible for ensuring that the resources needs of the project at any point in time are available and managed. A key responsibility will
also be to ensure that all planned activities are within schedule. The Team will arrange for, and supply the logistics required to carry out planned project
activities. The management of project Team dependencies (interfacing) as well as the continued monitoring of the project for risks are also other
functions of the Team.
The Team is responsible for ensuring that the resources needs of the project at any point in time are available and managed. A key responsibility will
also be to ensure that all planned activities are within schedule. The Team will arrange for, and supply the logistics required to carry out planned project
activities. The management of project Team dependencies (interfacing) as well as the continued monitoring of the project for risks are also other
functions of the Team.
1.5 Communications Team
The communication Teams shall be responsible for all communications designs and content creation and management. In particular, they would work
with the Stakeholder management and IT Teams to ensure relevant content is created during project execution (e.g. the content of website; messages
sent to communities, fliers, brochures, banners, radio messages, etc.). This Team shall spearhead the branding of this Dega Development Agenda
(project)
The communication Teams shall be responsible for all communications designs and content creation and management. In particular, they would work
with the Stakeholder management and IT Teams to ensure relevant content is created during project execution (e.g. the content of website; messages
sent to communities, fliers, brochures, banners, radio messages, etc.). This Team shall spearhead the branding of this Dega Development Agenda
(project)
1.6 Stakeholder management Team
This Team shall be active, and shall be at the forefront of community interactions and outreached activities. The Team shall plan and execute all
community outreach activities, and shall liaise with the Teams IT, Communications, project controls & support etc. to ensure success of all outreach
efforts
This Team shall be active, and shall be at the forefront of community interactions and outreached activities. The Team shall plan and execute all
community outreach activities, and shall liaise with the Teams IT, Communications, project controls & support etc. to ensure success of all outreach
efforts
1.7 The IT Team
This Team shall be the technology backbone of the project, and shall provide support to the other Teams as requested to do so. The Team shall be
responsible for maintaining relevant data of all persons and resources for the project. The Team shall ensure that all project deliverables relating IT are met.
This Team shall be the technology backbone of the project, and shall provide support to the other Teams as requested to do so. The Team shall be
responsible for maintaining relevant data of all persons and resources for the project. The Team shall ensure that all project deliverables relating IT are met.
Wednesday, 11 October 2017
REGISTRATION LINKS
To register to be part of this Noble agenda please click on this link
To be part of the functional teams of this agenda kindly click on this link
https://goo.gl/forms/HQTmjAmQr0Hq7IZE3.
Follow this link to join the WhatsApp group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/
Please use this link to join the Dega Development Agenda Discussion Platform.
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