By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Oct. 28, GNA – The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has proposed a resolution requiring all road development projects within the metropolis to incorporate safe pedestrian walkways and dedicated cycling lanes to improve road safety and promote sustainable transportation.
Mr Frederick F. Faidoo, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), said the inadequate provision of walkways and cycling lanes in road projects remained a major concern and required stronger collaboration among the Assembly, contractors, the Department of Urban Roads and development partners.
He made the proposal in his sessional address at the Assembly’s third general meeting in Sekondi, where he called for compliance checks before road projects were approved or certified for payment, subject to applicable contractual and technical requirements.
Mr Faidoo said the initiative formed part of efforts to promote active mobility, particularly walking and cycling, and support the Assembly’s vision of becoming a smart city by 2030.
He said the Assembly, through its Department of Transport and in collaboration with development partners, had undertaken public education, road safety training and a three-day training-of-trainers programme on active mobility.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the ACTIVE Programme.
On road infrastructure, the MCE said routine maintenance activities included road-line markings, the installation of traffic signs, pothole patching in Sekondi and the replacement of defective metal gratings on Justmoh Avenue in front of All Needs Supermarket.
He said construction works on the Fijai Road project, being undertaken by Viabuild, were ongoing, while the 1.30-kilometre Cape Coast Road stretch from the PTC Interchange to the Paa Grant Roundabout, under the 39-kilometre Greater Sekondi-Takoradi Road Rehabilitation Project, was about 95 per cent complete.
According to him, construction had also commenced on the five-kilometre Sekondi Road, popularly known as Beach Road, being executed by Justmoh Construction Limited.
Mr Faidoo said the grading and gravelling of selected unpaved roads, as well as the installation of rumble strips and warning signs at high-risk locations in Sekondi, had been programmed and were awaiting commencement, subject to final mobilisation.
On education, he said the Assembly had resolved the administrative and financial challenges associated with the Metro Mock Examination for basic schools through an agreed payment plan with the service provider.
He said measures had been put in place to ensure that the examinations continued without interruption and were administered effectively and transparently.
The MCE also announced that the metropolis emerged overall champion at the 2026 Districts Sports Festival held in Tarkwa, earning the right to host the next edition.
He said preparations had begun in collaboration with Regional Sports Coordinators to ensure a successful event and commended the athletes, coaches, officials and other stakeholders for their contributions to the achievement.
Under the Feed Ghana Programme, the Assembly had received 30,000 birds for distribution to 1,500 beneficiaries across the metropolis’s three constituencies under the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme.
Mr Faidoo said two Feed Ghana Brigadiers had been posted to the Assembly’s Department of Agriculture to strengthen agricultural extension services and support programme implementation.
He said 100 young people from the Sekondi and Essikado-Ketan constituencies had received training in modern fish-farming techniques under the Aquaculture Community Commercialisation Programme.
The next phase, he said, would involve the provision of production tanks, fingerlings, feed and other essential inputs to enable the trained youth groups to commence commercial fish farming.
Mr Faidoo said the metropolis would celebrate the 42nd National Farmers’ Day on December 4, 2026, at Adiembra Lorry Station on the theme: “Our Farmers, Our Food, Our Future.”
On social welfare, he said the Assembly had disbursed GH¢386,854.40 out of GH¢411,697.22 allocated under the Disability Common Fund to support persons with disabilities (PWDs).
According to him, 82 applicants, including four disability associations, were selected for assistance after a needs assessment and vetting exercise conducted by the Disability Fund Management Committee.
Of the amount disbursed, GH¢274,126.40 was used to procure items to support beneficiaries’ economic activities, while GH¢112,728.00 was provided as cash assistance for healthcare, education and business development.
He said the intervention was intended to promote inclusive development and assist beneficiaries to become economically productive and self-reliant.
Mr Faidoo further reported that several projects funded through the District Assemblies Common Fund were at various stages of completion, including classroom blocks, health facilities, sanitation infrastructure and water supply systems.
He said the six-unit classroom block at Nana Kobina Gyan Primary School at Adiembra was 75 per cent complete, while the two-unit classroom block at Sekondi Model Nursery/Primary School and the three-unit classroom block at Prophet Nkansah Junior High School at Kojokrom were 70 per cent and 78 per cent complete, respectively.
The Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds at Eshiem and Kansaworodo were 72 per cent and 92 per cent complete, respectively.
Mr Faidoo said the rehabilitation of the Essikado-Ketan Sub-Metropolitan Office, construction of toilet facilities at three basic schools in Mpintsin, Bakaekyir and Ahanta Mampong, as well as repairs to the fence wall and roof of Bishop O’Rorke Anglican Basic School, had been completed.
The external painting of the Assembly’s Sekondi office block had also been completed.
He said five mechanised boreholes serving Essikafo Ambentem Number Three, New Takoradi Crossing Area, Airport Ridge Sawmill, Beach Road and Adakope had been completed, while another five-borehole project covering Railway Quarters Type C, Adiembra, Kweikuma, Ntaamakrom Basic School and Atease was 85 per cent complete.
Mr Faidoo said the Assembly would continue implementing development projects and strengthening service delivery to improve living conditions across the metropolis.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah