By Emmanuel Gamson
Sekondi (W/R), Aug. 28, GNA – Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has expressed the government’s commitment to supporting the marginalised and vulnerable people to ensure they live in dignity.
He said all pro-poor government interventions were progressing steadily to benefit the underprivileged in society, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
He said this at the opening of the Second Ordinary Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).
The meeting provided a platform for the Assembly to discuss its activities and projects for the first half of the year and review its strategies and programmes for the next period.
As part of activities for the period under review, Mr Issah said the Assembly through the Social Welfare and Community Development Department, had received an amount of GH₵150,027.00 to support Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within the Metropolis.
He said GH₵51,630.00 of the total amount would be disbursed to 30 beneficiaries by the second week of September this year.
“PWD Fund Management Committee will also be presenting proposals for the disbursement of the remaining funds,” he added.
On the financial standing of the Assembly, the MCE said as of the end of June, the STMA had been able to mobilise a total of GH¢8,572,196.86, which represented 43.8 per cent of its budgeted Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
Mr Issah said, “The Government of Ghana statutory releases also amounted to Gh¢17,418,535.54. This brings our cumulative revenue to Gh¢25,716,590.58.
“The trend analysis does not look good and I, therefore, urge all Assembly Members to support our field officers and commission collectors to rake in the required maximum revenue from our various community sources.”
Touching on climate change issues, the MCE stated that the Assembly had made efforts to build climate-resilient activities within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
In view of that, the Assembly had launched a “Youth in Climate Action Project,” to empower young people to take up initiatives geared towards addressing climate change and its associated effects within the Metropolis.
Mr Issah said the STMA, with support from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), was also preparing a Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) to fight climate change in Sekondi-Takoradi.
The MCE said the SEACAP sought to map out a scientifically grounded strategic framework for climate adaptation, mitigation, and access to affordable clean energy, and harnessing innovative tools for resource-efficient planning.
On the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), the STMA had received a backhoe, motor grader, roller, and water tanker, where the modalities for their operation and maintenance had been developed, he said.
“The Administration has completed the plan for the maintenance and construction of roads that are in deplorable states, and it is expected that work will commence soon,” Mr Issah added.
He revealed that on some of the activities for the rest of the year, the Assembly, through the Metropolitan Department of Agriculture, had begun preparations to observe this year’s’ National Farmers Day in November.
“The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has been selected to benefit from yet another transformative Project known as the Urban Transition Mission Project.
“This project is co-founded by the Global Covenant of Mayors, and upon the actualization of this project, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly will receive support for the development of the Sekondi-Takoradi Net-Zero Plan 2025 – 2050,” he said.
Mr Issah asked the Assembly Members to continue to work together with a spirit of collaboration while setting aside their individual affiliations to focus on the greater good of residents in the Metropolis.
Mr Eugene F. Ofori-Atta, the Presiding Member of the STMA, encouraged members to continue with their dedicated service and support towards making the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis a developmental hub in the Western Region and the country in general.
GNA