Awhitieso (W/R), Dec. 2, GNA – Mr Benjamin Kessie, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, has tasked traditional authorities to take urgent steps to address the widespread chieftaincy disputes across the Municipality.
He said, “the disputes have great security implications which take a major toll on our resources and impede development.”
Mr Kessie made the appeal when the Assembly held its last meeting for the year at Awhitieso.
“Please let us unite and come together to resolve our collective differences towards making Tarkwa-Nusaem a model Municipality.”
On health, the MCE said for the third quarter of the year, 530 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Tarkwa-Nusaem Municipality with 13 deaths.
“From October 2021 to date one person out of 84 has succumbed to the virus. These figures have taken us to the unenviable position of first in the Western Region,” he said.
Mr Kessie said reports from the Municipal Health Directorate revealed that Assembly members had contributed significantly to educating communities to help reduce the spread of the virus.
However, “this spirit appears to be waning and l take this opportunity to urge assembly members to continue the good work you have begun.”
Mr Kessie said the Food and Drugs Authority had given authorization for the administration of Pfizer to children of 15 years and vaccination of the age category would commence soon nationwide.
He urged stakeholders to support the exercise to ensure the protection of the population against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So far 67,623 people have been fully covered. Out of this figure, 59,152 representing 87.5 per cent have received the first dose while 14,420, representing 21.3 per cent have taken the second dose,” the MCE indicated.
Mr Kessie stated that the meeting was very significant as they would discuss and approve the Assembly’s annual budget for 2022.
“The preparation of the budget has been very participatory and l believe it reflects the general will of the house. I will urge you to approve it to enable the assembly to implement all the projects and programmes earmarked for implementation in 2022,” the MCE said.
He observed that the budget document certainly did not and cannot contain all programmes and projects envisioned for the year under review.
“Our hard-working MP, central government, development partners, Corporate bodies/ business community and individuals will regularly flood our frontiers with programmes and projects beyond the budgeted items.”
He encouraged the Assembly members to sharpen their lobbying and advocacy skills to optimise the benefits thereof.
The MCE said the Assembly would also involve the private sector in their development drive and that projects such as the construction or reconstruction of the Tarkwa market circle storey stores across the high street and designated areas would be worked on, adding that “We will charge GMC to reconstruct the good old Tarkwa community centre.”
“As we continue to find permanent solutions to our road problems, we have captured the procurement of a grader in the budget to help in the maintenance of the inner roads,” Mr Kessie said.
Mr Emmanuel Yalmom Gado, Presiding Member, urged his colleagues to prioritise revenue mobilization in the various electoral areas and contribute towards the development agenda of the Municipality.
He charged the Assembly members to organize regular communal labour and sensitization exercises in their electoral areas to help keep their homes and the environment clean.
GNA