The Kwabre East District Assembly in the Ashanti Region is advocating it’s elevation to a municipal assembly as it has satisfied all the basic requirements that merit the status.
The assembly argued that as per the 2010 population census, the population size of the district was 100,000 which was far above the 75,000 mark for municipal assemblies coupled with the major developmental projects which had helped to transform the living conditions of the people.
Developmental Projects
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Adams Iddisah, told the Daily Graphic that the developmental projects, which had been executed since 2009 when the DCE took charge of the district and the ongoing, ones were conspicuous in the district.
These are ICT centres, road constructions, 240 lockable stalls and 160 sheds for market women, 18-unit classroom blocks for Kofi Agyei Senior High School, three-storey blocks, two-completed dormitories each for boys and girls at the Gyaama Pensang, as well as teachers’ quarters.
GETFund
According to him, through the GETFund, the assembly had also helped to complete the Aboaso Senior High School’s eight-flat four-storey building which was 50 per cent complete in 2009.
When the Daily Graphic went round the district as part of its itinerary of assessing government’s developmental projects across the Ashanti Region, the physical infrastructure at the district was overwhelming.
Delay of Common Fund
Despite the occasional delay in the release of the Common Fund to the various districts, the Kwabre East, through the District Development Fund and its internally generated fund has been able to put up a six-classroom block for the Institute of Islamic and Nazamia Islamic School, a 16-seater WC public toilet at Mamponteng, a six-classroom block at Azemua District Assembly primary, similar ones at Ntonso R/C, Kasem D/A, Wamaaze, Akiti and surrounding areas.
With respect to road construction, the assembly is currently undertaking two major projects – the Fawode-Kenyase road and the Aboaso-Besoro Kenyase road.
Also plans are afoot to begin the Kenyase-Antoa road.
Boreholes for the people
Our checks revealed that at least 80 boreholes have been constructed for the people to improve their water supply situation while 40 institutional latrines have been put in place.
Mr Iddisah believes if the municipal request is granted, it would pave the way for it to access the Urban Development Fund to enhance its development agenda.
Challenges
The assembly’s challenge is the evacuation of its waste which keeps draining its coffers. As a result, the DCE is appealing to Zoomlion to help with the evacuation to mitigate cost.
Currently, a pilot project is being run on two communities on revenue enhancement especially on property rates and when successful, it would be implemented to build the financial muscle of the assembly.
