The management of the Ahafo Ano South West District Assembly on Tuesday May 30, 2023 held a meeting with the owners and operators of the various community information centers (CIC) in the District. The rationale behind this meeting was to put measures in place to streamline the activities and management of information centers in the District. The District Co-ordinating Director, Paul Atsu Agebezudor who was the chairman of the meeting on his opening remarks briefed the owners of the community information centers on the laws that governs the operation and management of information centers in the District which is stipulated in the gazetted Bye-laws of the District Assembly. He also informed them to apply for an operational license or renew the license if they already have. The District co-ordinating Director also touched on the operational hours of the information centers which is also stipulated clearly in the Assembly’s Bye-laws approved by the august house of the Assembly. In addition, he cautioned them to ask for the license and permit of herbal drug sellers who come to use their medium to sell before they allow them to sell on their information centers. According to the Co-ordinating Director, if that is not done and the Assembly receives any complain of someone having any side effects of a herbal medication, the owner of the information center would be held responsible. The District Chief Executive, Hon. Joseph Frimpong Bonsu also made it known to the CIC owners not to allow any political discussions, chieftaincy and other sensitive issues on their network since it can incite the public. He urged them to renew their license and also pay their yearly levy to the Assembly for development. He also stressed on the issue of selling drugs on their network which is prohibited unless the person has a valid and a recognize license and a permit from the District Assembly. Below are the measures that were discussed at the meeting: 1. Information Centers are to be formally and fully registered by the Assembly. Fee fixing approved fees; • Urban - GH?150.00 per annum • Rural - GH? 60.00 per annum 2. All Information Centers are restricted from selling drugs unless the drug seller has a license and a permit from the Assembly. 3. There should be no discussion on political, chieftaincy and other sensitive issues that can incite the public on any Information Center. 4. Information Centers should not have more than four (4) horns on the pole. 5. The approved distance between Information Centers in a community should be 50 meters apart. 6. The noise level at dawn should be lowered as compared to prime time. Operational Hours • Morning – 5:00am to 8:00am • Evening – 4:00pm to 8:00pm • In the case of emergency, an announcement could be done in the afternoon. 7. The District Assembly reserves the right to revoke the permit of operators who breach or go contrary to these guidelines. 8. These guidelines are however subject to yearly review. credit: ISD/MIS