By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast, Aug. 18, GNA – The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA), has rallied support for the implementation of its Eight-Year Development Plan (2026-2033) relying heavily on nonstate actors for resource mobilisation.
Mr George Justice Arthur, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) said the Assembly expected nearly a quarter, about 23 per cent of the Plan’s financing to come from the Central Government, while the largest share of 64 per cent would be mobilised from nonstate sources comprising of the private sector expected to provide 57 per cent, a percent from development partners and other financing sources, six per cent.
Speaking with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Arthur explained that Government financing would strategically target socially important, but financially non stateviable projects such as roads, classrooms, and health facilities.
He outlined major total expected cost under the Plan to include governance and administration with an amount of GH¢20,430,000, finance and revenue mobilisation of GH¢1,980,000, as well as planning, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation totalling GH¢2,120,000.
Others are GH¢30,000,000 for education management, GH¢26,350,000 for health services management, GH¢47,940,000 for youth and social development, GH¢131,830,000 for trade and industries development, GH¢12,590,000 for tourism development and promotion, and GH¢14,820,000 to be invested in agriculture services and management.
The rest are climate change and disaster management’s estimated budget to accrue GH¢19,995,000, environmental protection, GH¢6,950,000, sanitation and waste management, GH¢107,760,001, road and transport management is GH¢108,272,500, infrastructure delivery and management GH¢40,892,500 and water service delivery amounting to GH¢109,730,000.
The development plan seeks to provide a long-term blueprint for transforming the Metropolis across key sectors, including infrastructure, education, health, tourism, the economy, and governance.
The plan comes as a response to the limits of the usual four-year planning cycle, which officials said had often made it difficult to complete major projects and sustain long-term development.
The plan would reposition Cape Coast as a model sustainable city with stronger growth, cultural excellence and innovation-driven development to guide resource mobilisation, improve project implementation, and attract support for projects that will raise the quality of life of residents.
To achieve these targets, Mr Arthur emphasised the critical role of improved Internally Generated Funds (IGF) mobilisation expected to generate GH¢2,200,000.00 to ease sanitation and waste management, GH¢130,000.00 for water service delivery, GH¢4,840,000, for governance and administration, GH¢500,000, for social protection and development, GH¢700,000.00 for monitoring of youth and social development interventions, among others.
He announced plans to deploy digital revenue mobilisation systems through, electronic ticketing, mobile money, business operating permits, parking fees, and house numbering to ensure all landed and immovable properties were captured for owners to pay the appropriate levies to shore-up IGF.
In collaboration with other stakeholders, he said the Assembly would scale-up education on the need for traders, businesses, and required institutions to pay the needed levies and fines to the Assembly while ensuring enhanced transparency and efficiency in issuing building permits amidst development control.
Mr Arthur explained the expected GH¢40,892,500 infrastructure delivery and management on public works to include the construction of information centre and community hostel at Ola Madina, staircases behind CCMA, near Kotokuraba, lorry terminal at Ebubonko, Abura and Kototokuraba, police station at Gegem and Ekon and complete sea defense along the Cape Coast coastal stretched.
The Assembly would also construct community centres at Chapel Square, Adisadel staff quarters and Ola Madina and a shed and footbridge at Town Hall, fence wall at Abura Market, pavement at Abura market, and prepare drainage master plan for Cape Coast.
Touching on transport and traffic management, Mr Arthur pledged to engage the transport unions to streamline their operations, regulate tricycle riders (Okader and Pragyia), install new traffic lights at critical road intersections and particularly undertake repair and maintenance of Abura traffic lights to ease vehicular and human congestion along the Abura-Kotokuraba-Anaafo central business district.
In addition to that, he said the Assembly would provide and install road safety signs and markings, facilitate introduction of bus rapid transit system while working towards the establishment of Cape Coast Airport at the Efutu enclave to ease travelling challenges, boost tourism and job creation.
Mr Arthur appealed to investors, development partners, institutions, and the public to rally behind the plan, saying its success depended on shared commitment, funding support, and active participation from all stakeholders.
“Cape Coast’s future will be built by all of us and with unity of purpose, this city will rise into a shining model of opportunity, heritage and transformation”, he assured.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Isaac ArkohÂ
[email protected]