By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Paga (U/E), April 16, GNA – The Paga Youth Movement have called for urgent action on the poor nature of roads, inadequate water supply, rising security concerns, poor sanitation management, and encroachment on public lands in the Kassena-Nankana West District.
The Youth Movement said these issues were not just basic social amenities but core to the livelihood of the people in the area and must be given the needed attention, stressing that any delay in addressing them would continue to affect economic activities and the overall wellbeing of residents.
They raised these concerns during a stakeholder engagement with Mr Stephen Aeke Akurugo, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Kassena-Nankana West District, held in Paga as part of the Assembly’s ongoing community engagement and revenue mobilisation drive.
Mr Mandala Kassim Mubashir, Secretary to the Movement, who spoke on behalf of the group, commended the DCE for initiating the engagement, describing it as a step in the right direction towards inclusive governance.
“We are most grateful for this engagement. It is very significant when it comes to community development,” he said.
He, however, stressed that key development challenges confronting the area required immediate attention to improve the living conditions of residents.
According to him, periodic reshaping of roads had not yielded lasting results and, in some cases, worsened conditions by displacing gravel.
“We are appealing that road works should be done properly so that they will last and serve the people better because the state of our roads at the moment is not good at all and should be given the needed attention,” he said.
On water supply, the group noted that the growing population of the community could no longer rely solely on existing community-based water systems and called for the extension of services by the Ghana Water Company Limited.
“We believe bringing Ghana Water on board will help meet the needs of the people,” Mr Mubashir added.
Mr Mubashir also noted that chieftaincy-related disputes between Paga and the neighbouring Navio community was a major concern to the youth and called for thorough investigations into recent incidents and the implementation of lasting solutions to ensure peace in the area.
They also raised concerns about sanitation challenges, especially the lack of functional public toilet facilities in the market and urged the Assembly to prioritise improvements in that area.
Mr Mubashir indicated that maintaining such facilities could also serve as a source of revenue for the Assembly if properly managed.
Additionally, the group appealed for the completion of ongoing projects in the area, including Agenda 111, to ensure that resources already invested were not wasted.
They also expressed concern about service delivery at local health facilities, citing instances where patients reportedly did not find nurses at their posts, and called for improved supervision and accountability.
Mr Stephen Aeke Akurugo acknowledged the concerns raised by the youth and assured them of the Assembly’s commitment to addressing the challenges, stressing that many of the issues could be resolved through improved Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
He explained that the Assembly was intensifying its revenue mobilisation drive to generate adequate funds to invest in critical sectors such as roads, water, and sanitation, noting that increased local revenue would complement government support to accelerate development in the district.
The DCE further indicated that plans were underway to improve market infrastructure and sanitation facilities, including the construction of a modern 24-hour economy market with essential amenities to ease congestion and improve trading conditions.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Linda Asante Agyei