The Kwahu West Municipal Assembly held an interaction session with residents of in eight (8) communities in the Municipality on Thursday, September 1.
The engagement was aimed at establishing, and fostering cordial, strong and communicated relationships between the people, Assembly members and the staff of the Assembly as well as the traditional authorities to assess, address and fast-track efforts to resolve the issues bothering the communities in the area.
The MCE, Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo on his part, stated the government of President Akufo-Addo remains committed to ensuring that basic essentials are provided for people living in rural areas to ease their movement and to provide a boost in microeconomic activities in such areas.
He affirmed that there cannot be developments without the support and involvement of the people.
He made known that it is mandatory as required by law for MMDCEs appointed by the President to occasionally meet with the people they represent, and assess their views and grievances.
“Today, we’re here to engage with the community as it is required of me too as and when necessary, occasionally, tour communities surviving under the Kwahu West Municipality. We have over 214 communities under Kwahu West and I must visit all these areas. We want to be able to visit all these communities before the year ends.
President Akufo-Addo’s motive is to make sure that all his appointees are visiting the people they’re representing. We are here to know what is happening in the people because you cannot sit in your office and assume everything is fine. The government of President Akufo-Addo is committed to giving Ghanaians the best of social and economic development“, the MCE said.
Hon. Owusu Addo further called on the traditional authority to hold on to their powers as the custodians of the land and assist the government in making sure there is Law and Order.
At the first engagement, three communities including Wisiwisi, Besease and Sitey Kese converged at the community Square to meet and engage the MCE and his entourage from the Assembly.
Some of the residents of the Wisiwisi community complained to the MCE to help tackle the recent rampant illegal mining ripping off water bodies in the area.
Another resident requested that a new Vocational training school be built around the area to provide the opportunity for the youth who do not get access to secondary schools to also engage in vocational training.
Another issue raised was the provision of fertilizer for farmers. The residents complained that the fertilizer has now become expensive and that farmers cannot buy the fertilizer.
The MCE in his quest also charged the residents to be able to coordinate all their grievances to the Assembly Member, Hon. SDA to liaise with the Assembly and the traditional authorities to help address the issues.
A Besease resident called on the MCE to help fast-track the road connecting Wisiwisi and Besease.
The Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw constituency, Hon. Joseph Frempong in his address called on the people to remain calm as funds for Government’s approved rural electrification projects are being hindered by the fallout of the novel Covid-19 pandemic. He said Government has approved 10 communities to be connected to the National grid.
He also called on the people to commend President Akufo-Addo for his role in the implementation of the Free Senior High school. However, he called on the residents to be more proactive and productive to themselves as there’s dignity in labour.
“Let’s be productive to ourselves. The last banana seedlings I bought from you people, the 8,000 seedlings, I have started harvesting them. I plead with you to let us work with our hands because there’s dignity in labour. You cannot sit under a tree and say President Akufo-Addo is inflicting hardship on you“.
He further charged the residents to embrace and commend President Akufo-Addo’s Free senior high school policy. Mr Frempong donated boxes of street lights to the six communities to help strengthen security in the area.
A similar exercise was held for residents in Odumase, Wawase, Denkyira and Daamini as part of the Assembly’s engagement for the day.
Some residents contested to the MCE to construct a bridge on stream, lying outskirt of the town. Another resident called on the MCE, Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo to extend the provision of networking services to the area as residents find it difficult to make calls and access speed Internet.
Kofi Kodie, another resident questioned how extensive the Community mining has been as residents continue to live in abject, although foreigners are mining in the forest Ghanaians are prevented from mine in.
The engagement scheduled to take place at Abepotia did not hold due to miscommunication.
