Hon Augustine Collins Ntim, one of the Deputy Local Government Ministers on Monday toured the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly as well as the Asokwa Municipal Assembly at separate engagements to familiarize himself with work at both assemblies.
Accompanied by some officers from the Ministry, the Minister noted his delight at the manner in which the two assemblies had set out to implement government programs and policies through the decentralized system under the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGRD).
He encouraged both Assemblies to make use of District Implementation Committees whose duty is to ensure all government flagship programs and policies were implemented to the latter.
Some of these programs, particularly those under the Education, Health and Agric Directorates, the Deputy Minister mentioned were aimed at having a holistic impact on the people of the country and thereby ensure total development.
Sitting through a presentation by the three mentioned departments under the two assemblies, the Minister noted with happiness the performances of KMA and Asokwa and asked that they work to sustain the gains in the fields they fared well and make amends at places they scored low marks so that they could push the development agenda of the government forward.
KMA MAYOR:
Hon Samuel Pyne, Mayor for Kumasi summing up his thoughts about the visit by the Deputy Minister noted that the KMA was committed to working to improve the lot of the people in its jurisdiction.
He also pledged the Assembly’s resolve to work on areas that they did not fare well as well as work to sustain the gains it made in some of the areas identified in the Agric, Education and Health directorates.
The Mayor however asked for special consideration for the KMA when distributions are being made in the form of the district assemblies common fund (DACF) as well as other supplies since the KMA comprises 5 constituencies in the Ashanti Region.
ASOKWA:
On his part, MCE for Asokwa, Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah thanked the Deputy Minister for taking time to visit the Asokwa Municipal Assembly which was carved out in 2018.
He noted that the Assembly since its establishment has led in the development of every sector of the local economy while maximizing in areas such as agriculture where it is known for cultivating the largest vegetables in the region.
ASOKWA MP:
Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Member of Parliament for Asokwa said she was happy the Deputy Minister was someone who had worked through the ranks of the local government system.
This, she noted puts him in a good stead to appreciate the challenges the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were facing but posited that the carving out of Asokwa to attain Municipal status has led to transformation in the communities under same and prayed the gains would be maintained by the Assembly so as to become the beacon of modernized community.
STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.