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An artist's impression of the St. Martin De Porres Hopital at Ekwei after its expansion
An artist's impression of the St. Martin De Porres Hopital at Ekwei after its expansion

Ellembelle, next industrial, commercial hub of W/R

The Ellembelle District in the Western Region is bracing itself as the biggest industrial and commercial hub after Sekondi-Takoradi and Tarkwa Nsuaem as economic activities pick up.

The district has in recent times seen improvement in commercial and industrial activities. It has created space for factories and new developments for prospective investors, making the district one of the best investment destinations in the region.

The district plays host to mining and onshore gas infrastructure operated by the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) at Atuabo, its operational headquarters, as well as Eni Ghana’s onshore reception facility (ORF) at Sanzule, liquefied petroleum gas terminals and a thermal power plant company.

That aside, the Ellembelle District has one of the finest hospitality facilities along its large stretch of beautiful coastline, most of which is yet to be tapped into, as well as countless tourism potential it shares with the adjoining municipalities.

The district also has commercial banking with a 24/7 automated teller machines for corporate organisations, the convenience of workers who have migrated to the area to work and visitors to the area.

Govt support

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the District Chief Executive, Mr Kwesi Bonzoh, said the current spate of development was as a result of consensus on the part of the District Assembly and the support from government to contain the boom as a result of the oil find.

“In our bid to bring real progress and prosperity to our people as a government through the assembly, we are committed to roads construction and maintenance, education and health facilities, functional markets, water/sanitation, tackle unemployment through youth entrepreneurship/skills development as opportunities trickle in,” he said.

To contain the flow of investors to,  he said the district had in place star rated hotels along the beach to host visitors and an improved road network that reduces travel time.

Aside from the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP), there are LPG gas terminals, corporate offices of GRIDCo and ECG and other energy firms – working on a 30 megawatts power plant and others.

“That aside, we have a mining company here, Nkroful, the birthplace of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with a lot of potential, rich festivals and Ghana Gas and Eni Ghana with metering stations and their workers,” he said.

 “The government is delivering this development through the assembly and it represents others through the creation of an enabling environment for investors to zero in and invest in tourism, real estate and others,” Mr Bonzoh said.

One thing that is making it work for the district, he said, was a collective approach where the views of all stakeholders, especially traditional rulers, are brought onboard. “We also have a major road linking the district's capital to the food baskets of the district,” he added.

Gas City spatial planning

He said at the assembly’s level, the focus was to improve social infrastructure – the next thing was the prudent use of mineral development funds and other allocations to the assembly, which would be used to develop educational infrastructure.

As the interest grows, he said the assembly would embark on spatial planning to ensure guided development to make Ellembelle a well-planned Gas City of the region.

The government over the past four years initiated road projects, classroom blocks and other ancillary projects for schools in the district – many are completed while others are progressing.

In the area of health, Mr Bonzoh said the district benefited from the construction of many CHPS compounds, some of which have been completed while others are progressing steadily.

The DCE said there was also the expansion and upgrading of the St Martin De Porres Hospital at Ekwei, which is very strategic and when completed would serve as a district hospital.

The district through the support of its stakeholders, its initiatives and the government would monitor all projects to ensure that they are delivered on time to the people, he said.

“We will continue to ensure that we represent the government at all levels to deliver on our promise,” he assured.

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