By Frank Kwame Abbor, GNA
Akome (V/R), May 18, GNA – The Ho West District Assembly has intensified efforts to strengthen grassroots governance and improve service delivery through a four-day community engagement exercise held in Akome Agate, Akome Gbogame, and Akome Gbota.
The outreach, led by Mr Francis Profer Dusey, the District Chief Executive (DCE) together with key staff of the Assembly, sought to gather first-hand information on challenges confronting residents while promoting transparency, accountability and participatory governance.
Addressing residents on May 15, during the engagements, Mr Dusey reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure concerns, particularly the repair of the collapsed 1957 bridge on the Dzolokpuita–Kpedze road, which he described as essential to economic and social activities within the area.
“The bridge remains very important to commerce and movement within the district, and we are committed to ensuring that the necessary steps are taken toward its reconstruction,” he stated.
The DCE also educated residents on the importance of obtaining building permits before putting up structures, stressing that proper planning regulations were necessary to ensure orderly and safe community development.
He encouraged residents to honour their civic obligations by paying property rates, basic rates and business operating permits to support the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF) mobilisation efforts.
“The development we all seek cannot happen without revenue. The payment of rates and permits is essential if we want improved roads, schools, health facilities and other services,” Mr Dusey explained.
Touching on social harmony, he appealed to residents to continue promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation within their communities to sustain development and stability in the district.
Mr Daniel Kumah, the District Environmental Health and Sanitation Officer, also used the occasion to educate residents on sanitation and public health issues, including the dangers of open defecation and the need for every household to construct private toilet facilities.
“We must all take sanitation seriously because public health begins from our homes and communities,” he said, while encouraging active participation in National Sanitation Day activities.
Mr Kumah reminded residents about regulations concerning burial permits and stray animals and announced plans by the Assembly to introduce an award scheme to recognise the cleanest communities within the district.
The engagement ended with an open forum during which residents raised concerns over poor roads, inadequate electricity coverage, challenges in the health and education sectors, sanitation issues and the need for greater support for agriculture and local livelihoods.
Madam Edith Allan Ablometi, Assembly Member for the Akome Electoral Area, expressed satisfaction with the engagement and commended the Assembly for directly interacting with residents and listening to their concerns.
The chiefs and people of the Akome traditional area also welcomed the initiative and urged the Assembly to sustain the dialogue platforms to strengthen trust, improve governance, and promote inclusive development across the district.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade