A MULTI-million youth training centre to train semi-literate and uneducated youth within Ashaiman and its environs is to be constructed in the municipality.
The project, which is being initiated by the Holy Gabriel Anglican Church, is to afford the youth an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, as well as reduce unemployment within the municipality.
The project, which is estimated at GH¢50,000, would have multi-purpose classroom blocks to be used for instructions, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre which is equipped with high speed internet connectivity, a conference hall, lawn tennis court and bookshop, among other facilities.
A four-acre land has been acquired to begin constructional works on the centre and a vicarage for the church.
The parish priest in charge of the church, Reverend Father Kwasi Ellis, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic.
He indicated that the absence of entrepreneurial centres in government institutions across the country to train semi-literate and unemployed youth to be independent had contributed immensely to the high unemployment and illiteracy rate in the country, and this, according to Rev Ellis, had contributed considerably to the youth’s involvement in negative social vices. “It is for this reason that the parish has decided to embark on productive projects to engage them, as well as re-directing them towards serving God,” he remarked.
He regretted that Ashaiman, which is currently estimated to be populated with about 250,000 people showing an increase of 50,000 since the last census in 2000, was one of the poor communities among urban slums in the country.
He appealed to the government and the private sector to formulate programmes and projects that would go into creating investment opportunities to equip the youth within the municipality to develop and maximise their potential.
Rev Ellis challenged political leaders to redirect their focus on material gains into improving the lives of the youth, who are the nation’s heartbeat.
He also cautioned the youth to give a new definition to life’s perception as they strove in their various ways to please God’s purpose of creation.
He charged Ghanaians irrespective of their ethnicity, political affiliation or religious denomination to serve God righteously as life without Christ was like possessing a vehicle without having access to fuel product to enable one to move around.
The Holy Gabriel Anglican Church, which was established in 1983 as part of its efforts to complement the government’s efforts in the provision of education, has also established a junior high school in addition to its basic school.
Monday, October 12, 2009
STATE LOSES CASE TO NDK FINANCIAL SERVICES (PAGE 46, OCT 5)
THE Commercial Division of the Accra High Court has ordered the state to pay GH¢602,609.50, with interest at the contractual rate of five per cent from July 1, 2007, to NDK Financial Services for the breach of a contract by the Ghana Prisons Service when it declined to purchase combat boots from the Apex Consulting Services.
The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Margaret Welbourne, also awarded costs of GH¢50,000 against the state, which was represented by the Attorney-General.
The Prisons Service, in December 2005, contracted Apex Consulting Services, an Accra-based consulting firm, to supply 5,310 pairs of combat boots, valued at GH¢308,378.25, for use by prison officers.
Following the arrangement, Apex applied for a loan facility from NDK Financial Services to cover the cost of procuring the boots.
As a condition for the approval of the facility, the Prisons Service agreed to serve as a guarantor for the payment of the contract sum.
The guarantee was made under the condition that the service would pay the contract sum in the joint names of NDK Financial Services and Apex, but when the boots arrived at the Tema Port in September 2006, the service failed to take delivery of them, with the excuse that the boots were to be purchased from a different source.
As a result, Apex was unable to repay the loan as arranged, compelling NDK Financial Services to sue both Apex and the Attorney-General, praying the court to order the payment of GH¢602,609.50, being the purported balance on the loan as of June 30, 2007, interest at the rate of five per cent per month and additional costs.
The court held that the evidence before it indicated that the service did not take delivery of the boots and, therefore, it did not pay Apex to enable it to meet its obligations to NDK Financial Services.
It said the argument by the Prisons Service that Apex failed to supply the boots within 90 days was untenable because it did not find, on the face of the contract, any time or deadline for the delivery of the boots.
Furthermore, the court held that the argument by the Attorney-General that Apex was required to communicate acceptance or execute some documents, while in another breath alleging that there was a contract but Apex failed to deliver within the specified time, was untenable.
The court held that the boots were available for inspection and delivery but the Prisons Service failed to carry out the inspection, while no place was designated by the service for the delivery to be effected.
"Even when samples were delivered to them, they refused to act," the court held, and added that the defendant did not deny that it prepared a guarantee for Apex for the purpose of obtaining the facility to import the boots that the service had contracted Apex to supply.
The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Margaret Welbourne, also awarded costs of GH¢50,000 against the state, which was represented by the Attorney-General.
The Prisons Service, in December 2005, contracted Apex Consulting Services, an Accra-based consulting firm, to supply 5,310 pairs of combat boots, valued at GH¢308,378.25, for use by prison officers.
Following the arrangement, Apex applied for a loan facility from NDK Financial Services to cover the cost of procuring the boots.
As a condition for the approval of the facility, the Prisons Service agreed to serve as a guarantor for the payment of the contract sum.
The guarantee was made under the condition that the service would pay the contract sum in the joint names of NDK Financial Services and Apex, but when the boots arrived at the Tema Port in September 2006, the service failed to take delivery of them, with the excuse that the boots were to be purchased from a different source.
As a result, Apex was unable to repay the loan as arranged, compelling NDK Financial Services to sue both Apex and the Attorney-General, praying the court to order the payment of GH¢602,609.50, being the purported balance on the loan as of June 30, 2007, interest at the rate of five per cent per month and additional costs.
The court held that the evidence before it indicated that the service did not take delivery of the boots and, therefore, it did not pay Apex to enable it to meet its obligations to NDK Financial Services.
It said the argument by the Prisons Service that Apex failed to supply the boots within 90 days was untenable because it did not find, on the face of the contract, any time or deadline for the delivery of the boots.
Furthermore, the court held that the argument by the Attorney-General that Apex was required to communicate acceptance or execute some documents, while in another breath alleging that there was a contract but Apex failed to deliver within the specified time, was untenable.
The court held that the boots were available for inspection and delivery but the Prisons Service failed to carry out the inspection, while no place was designated by the service for the delivery to be effected.
"Even when samples were delivered to them, they refused to act," the court held, and added that the defendant did not deny that it prepared a guarantee for Apex for the purpose of obtaining the facility to import the boots that the service had contracted Apex to supply.
SHUN 'GET RICK QUICK' ATTITUDE (OCT 3, PAGE 14)
THE Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, has called on the youth in the country to shun the get “rich quick” attitude and contribute positively towards national development.
He said the youth must desist from engaging in social vices such as armed robbery, cyber fraud, often referred to as “Sakawa”, drug trafficking and drug abuse, among others.
The minister made the call when he delivered a keynote address at the opening of a three-day delegates congress of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) at Prampram in the Dangme West District in the Greater Accra Region.
He expressed satisfaction at the efforts being made by the youth in their quest to show commitment toward building a successful future.
The congress, which is the sixth edition of the association, is on the theme ‘building the civic competence of the youth, a prerequisite for societal transformation’.
The minister commended members of the YMCA for initiating programmes and projects that were aimed at equipping young people in the country to take up leadership positions.
He said his ministry would organise a forum where the youth would be given a platform to discuss new proposals concerning the youth policy which was being laid before Parliament.
He said a unique national youth policy that would be backed by law would be put before Cabinet by the end of 2009. This policy, according to the minister, would reflect the aspirations and thinking of all Ghanaians.
The General Secretary of the YMCA, Mr Prosper Hoeyi, said the association’s vision was to empower young people to achieve their vision.
“Strides are being taken to develop the youth as productive and useful citizens,” he stated.
“It is this quest to widen the knowledge of our beneficiaries that had seen our organisation constructing 18 day care centres across the country, out of which two are located in Mpreaso and Akim Oda, both in the Eastern Region”, Mr Hoeyi indicated.
He, however, expressed regret at the approach adopted towards technical education, which, according to him, had been relegated to the background as the nation’s economy begs for men and women to drive its production sector.
The Youth National President of the YMCA, Mr Augustine Sarkwah, noted that there was the need for the participation of the youth in development debates as they were the ones who would take up the mantle of leadership in future.
He said the study of Social Studies ought to be redefined to include the elements of civic education, which is often relegated to the fringes of school life, leaving reading and mathematics to occupy major instructional hours.
Mr Sarkwah appealed to the government to consider the implementation of separate instructions on civic education in the basic schools to ensure students get the rudiments of government’s operations.
The Greater Accra regional secretary, Mr Reginald Foulkes Crabbe, in his welcoming address, called on the youth to use the forum as a period of reflecting on how to contribute their quota to the nation’s development.
Nene Atsure Denta III, Manklalo of Prampram and the acting President of the traditional council, who chaired the function, appealed to the youth to do away with negativity as they prepared themselves to take up the mantle to become future managers of Ghana’s economy.
He said the youth must desist from engaging in social vices such as armed robbery, cyber fraud, often referred to as “Sakawa”, drug trafficking and drug abuse, among others.
The minister made the call when he delivered a keynote address at the opening of a three-day delegates congress of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) at Prampram in the Dangme West District in the Greater Accra Region.
He expressed satisfaction at the efforts being made by the youth in their quest to show commitment toward building a successful future.
The congress, which is the sixth edition of the association, is on the theme ‘building the civic competence of the youth, a prerequisite for societal transformation’.
The minister commended members of the YMCA for initiating programmes and projects that were aimed at equipping young people in the country to take up leadership positions.
He said his ministry would organise a forum where the youth would be given a platform to discuss new proposals concerning the youth policy which was being laid before Parliament.
He said a unique national youth policy that would be backed by law would be put before Cabinet by the end of 2009. This policy, according to the minister, would reflect the aspirations and thinking of all Ghanaians.
The General Secretary of the YMCA, Mr Prosper Hoeyi, said the association’s vision was to empower young people to achieve their vision.
“Strides are being taken to develop the youth as productive and useful citizens,” he stated.
“It is this quest to widen the knowledge of our beneficiaries that had seen our organisation constructing 18 day care centres across the country, out of which two are located in Mpreaso and Akim Oda, both in the Eastern Region”, Mr Hoeyi indicated.
He, however, expressed regret at the approach adopted towards technical education, which, according to him, had been relegated to the background as the nation’s economy begs for men and women to drive its production sector.
The Youth National President of the YMCA, Mr Augustine Sarkwah, noted that there was the need for the participation of the youth in development debates as they were the ones who would take up the mantle of leadership in future.
He said the study of Social Studies ought to be redefined to include the elements of civic education, which is often relegated to the fringes of school life, leaving reading and mathematics to occupy major instructional hours.
Mr Sarkwah appealed to the government to consider the implementation of separate instructions on civic education in the basic schools to ensure students get the rudiments of government’s operations.
The Greater Accra regional secretary, Mr Reginald Foulkes Crabbe, in his welcoming address, called on the youth to use the forum as a period of reflecting on how to contribute their quota to the nation’s development.
Nene Atsure Denta III, Manklalo of Prampram and the acting President of the traditional council, who chaired the function, appealed to the youth to do away with negativity as they prepared themselves to take up the mantle to become future managers of Ghana’s economy.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
ASHAIMAN TASK FORCE TAKES OVER TOILETS (OCT 2, PAGE 13)
Two months after being handed the management of two toilets facilities, the Ashaiman National Democratic Congress (NDC) task force has taken over the remaining 19 places of convenience from the operators.
The group’s latest action comes in the wake of the assembly’s failure to honour its promise of adding two other facilities to their earlier acquisition.
When the Daily Graphic visited one of the facilities in the community, the new operators said they had been positioned there by the leadership of the task force to manage and render accounts to them.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Addison Adinortey-Numo, in a telephone interview, confirmed the take over.
Mr Numo, who is currently attending a one-day seminar for metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives at Agona Swedru, said he had instructed the Presiding Member, Mr Emmanuel Nikoi-Dsane, to convene a meeting with the assembly members to find a possible solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the operators association, Mr Richard Ahwireng, said they had filed an official complaint at the Ashaiman Police Station, pending the outcome of investigations.
The Ashaiman District Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Peter Kobina, told the Daily Graphic that they had received a complaint from both the Municipal Chief Executive and the Ashaiman Toilet Contractors Association, and had, therefore, launched investigations into the forceful take-over.
The leader of the task force, Mr Eric Brown-Voryee, who was taken aback by the decision of some members of the group, has called on the chief executive and the police to arrest the group for seizing the facilities.
He indicated that the latest action of the group was illegal, considering the legal implications it would have for members following the Tema High Court’s decision in June this year barring individual parties from taking over the facilities following a binding contract between the assembly and the operators.
Public toilets within the Ashaiman municipality became a subject of controversy between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in January this year when the latter assumed office.
The hullabaloo had seen the operators, who were believed to be functionaries of the opposition NPP engaging in a four-month legal battle with Mr Bawa Ibrahim, the NDC constituency secretary, and his organiser, Mr Habel Adjei, who were instrumental in the January seizures.
The group’s latest action comes in the wake of the assembly’s failure to honour its promise of adding two other facilities to their earlier acquisition.
When the Daily Graphic visited one of the facilities in the community, the new operators said they had been positioned there by the leadership of the task force to manage and render accounts to them.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Addison Adinortey-Numo, in a telephone interview, confirmed the take over.
Mr Numo, who is currently attending a one-day seminar for metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives at Agona Swedru, said he had instructed the Presiding Member, Mr Emmanuel Nikoi-Dsane, to convene a meeting with the assembly members to find a possible solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the operators association, Mr Richard Ahwireng, said they had filed an official complaint at the Ashaiman Police Station, pending the outcome of investigations.
The Ashaiman District Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Peter Kobina, told the Daily Graphic that they had received a complaint from both the Municipal Chief Executive and the Ashaiman Toilet Contractors Association, and had, therefore, launched investigations into the forceful take-over.
The leader of the task force, Mr Eric Brown-Voryee, who was taken aback by the decision of some members of the group, has called on the chief executive and the police to arrest the group for seizing the facilities.
He indicated that the latest action of the group was illegal, considering the legal implications it would have for members following the Tema High Court’s decision in June this year barring individual parties from taking over the facilities following a binding contract between the assembly and the operators.
Public toilets within the Ashaiman municipality became a subject of controversy between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in January this year when the latter assumed office.
The hullabaloo had seen the operators, who were believed to be functionaries of the opposition NPP engaging in a four-month legal battle with Mr Bawa Ibrahim, the NDC constituency secretary, and his organiser, Mr Habel Adjei, who were instrumental in the January seizures.
ASHAIMAN ADR SETTLES 393 CASES (OCT 2, PAGE 29)
THE Ashaiman Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) settled 393 rent, debt recovery, land and marital disputes between January and June this year.
This represents a significant increase over the 334 disputes settled by the centre between January and December 2008.
The cases were received from Tema Township, Sakumono, Zeenu, Adjei Kojo, Kakasunaka No 1/2, all in the Tema Metropolis, Mataheko and Afienya in the Dangme West District.
Since its establishment in 2000, the centre has settled over 3,000 cases and this, according managers of the facility, is an indication that residents in and around Ashaiman and its environs are gradually embracing the ADR concept.
The centre’s half-year report signed by Messers Gabriel Atsu and Kingsley Kutiame and addressed to the President of the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CENSOR), noted that the ADR initiative had helped people who did not have the resources or inclination to seek justice in the law courts to obtain redress.
The report indicated that rent cases reported at the centre increased to 259 for the period, as against 136 recorded in the first quarter of 2008 and this was attributed to the increased demand by landlords for rent advance ranging from a minimum period of two to three years.
On disputes relating to child neglect and maintenance, the report indicated that divorce, loss of jobs, bankruptcy, as well as undue interference in marriages by extended family members, were the major contributing factors to the problem. It further expressed disappointment at the conduct of some men who often refused to comply with settlements reached during arbitration.
Land disputes, which are also frequent in the municipality, witnessed a significant increase during the period under review. The report indicated that land disputes mostly occurred when the same piece of land was sold to more than one buyer, making siblings to engage the services of land guards to protect their individual interests.
These cases, according to the report, are rampant in surrounding towns such as Adjei-Kojo, Zeenu, Kuberkro and Bethlehem. It also said as a result of such disputes, developers had encroached on some lands and built on watercourses.
The report said debt recovery cases continued to increase, due to the springing up of micro-finance institutions operating within the municipality.
It said although percentage interest rates charged on these loans were very high, urgent demands such as payment of school fees, petty trading and rent advances often compelled people to seek the services of these institutions. Some of them, however, were unable to comply with the repayment agreement.
The centre appealed to the municipal assembly, non-governmental organisations, as well as corporate financial institutions operating within the municipality to come to their aid through the provision of computers and other logistics to enhance its operations.
The report was optimistic that the early passage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill and an amendment to the Rent Act, as a way of responding to the changing needs and conditions of the people, will positively impact on the operations of ADR centres.
The ADR concept is an innovation which uses trusted community leaders as mediators and arbitrators in the settlement of disputes in communities and municipalities across the country.
This represents a significant increase over the 334 disputes settled by the centre between January and December 2008.
The cases were received from Tema Township, Sakumono, Zeenu, Adjei Kojo, Kakasunaka No 1/2, all in the Tema Metropolis, Mataheko and Afienya in the Dangme West District.
Since its establishment in 2000, the centre has settled over 3,000 cases and this, according managers of the facility, is an indication that residents in and around Ashaiman and its environs are gradually embracing the ADR concept.
The centre’s half-year report signed by Messers Gabriel Atsu and Kingsley Kutiame and addressed to the President of the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CENSOR), noted that the ADR initiative had helped people who did not have the resources or inclination to seek justice in the law courts to obtain redress.
The report indicated that rent cases reported at the centre increased to 259 for the period, as against 136 recorded in the first quarter of 2008 and this was attributed to the increased demand by landlords for rent advance ranging from a minimum period of two to three years.
On disputes relating to child neglect and maintenance, the report indicated that divorce, loss of jobs, bankruptcy, as well as undue interference in marriages by extended family members, were the major contributing factors to the problem. It further expressed disappointment at the conduct of some men who often refused to comply with settlements reached during arbitration.
Land disputes, which are also frequent in the municipality, witnessed a significant increase during the period under review. The report indicated that land disputes mostly occurred when the same piece of land was sold to more than one buyer, making siblings to engage the services of land guards to protect their individual interests.
These cases, according to the report, are rampant in surrounding towns such as Adjei-Kojo, Zeenu, Kuberkro and Bethlehem. It also said as a result of such disputes, developers had encroached on some lands and built on watercourses.
The report said debt recovery cases continued to increase, due to the springing up of micro-finance institutions operating within the municipality.
It said although percentage interest rates charged on these loans were very high, urgent demands such as payment of school fees, petty trading and rent advances often compelled people to seek the services of these institutions. Some of them, however, were unable to comply with the repayment agreement.
The centre appealed to the municipal assembly, non-governmental organisations, as well as corporate financial institutions operating within the municipality to come to their aid through the provision of computers and other logistics to enhance its operations.
The report was optimistic that the early passage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill and an amendment to the Rent Act, as a way of responding to the changing needs and conditions of the people, will positively impact on the operations of ADR centres.
The ADR concept is an innovation which uses trusted community leaders as mediators and arbitrators in the settlement of disputes in communities and municipalities across the country.
DEVELOP NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY — GOVT URGED (OCT 2, PAGE 29)
THE Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Mr Alhassan Andani, has called on the government to develop an effective national youth policy to ensure a fruitful future for Ghanaian youth.
Mr Andani expressed concern about the fact that successive governments had paid lip- service to issues concerning the youth, who are the nation’s heartbeat, and called on stakeholders to consider involving them in development debates as they are the ones who would be taking the mantle of leadership tomorrow.
He made the call at the induction of the newly elected President of Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bisiw.
Mr Bisiw noted that an estimated GH¢ 1.1 billion police station project which was initiated by the club last year was almost completed.
He said the project would serve Communities 6, 10 ,11 and 12 whose residents often had to travel as far as Community 2 to enable them to lodge complaints.
The police station, which is currently being roofed, has a charge office, male, female and juvenile cells, as well as a four-unit office for the personnel, he said.
Mr Bisiw pledged the club’s commitment to equipping the youth to face future challenges, hence the provision of a community library for the Gbetsile Cluster of Schools, a less-endowed school within the metropolis.
He announced that the club was sponsoring about 700 school pupils from nursery through primary and junior high school level and called for support to fight illiteracy, malaria, hunger, AIDS and other forms of deprivation.
The immediate past President of the club, Mr Ben Richard Aniagyei, expressed profound appreciation to members for their support and assistance during his tenure of office.
He commended all companies, individuals and Rotarians whose contributions in cash and kind made it possible for the club to undertake its projects.
Mr Aniagyei urged the new president to work in close collaboration with his board members to achieve the club’s objectives.
The Rotary Club of Tema, which is currently distributing books worth over $45million to equip school and other institutional libraries, also called for public cooperation to help arrest the decline in the falling standards of education in the country.
Some Rotarians were presented with Paul Harris Fellowship awards for their humanitarian service.
Mr Andani expressed concern about the fact that successive governments had paid lip- service to issues concerning the youth, who are the nation’s heartbeat, and called on stakeholders to consider involving them in development debates as they are the ones who would be taking the mantle of leadership tomorrow.
He made the call at the induction of the newly elected President of Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bisiw.
Mr Bisiw noted that an estimated GH¢ 1.1 billion police station project which was initiated by the club last year was almost completed.
He said the project would serve Communities 6, 10 ,11 and 12 whose residents often had to travel as far as Community 2 to enable them to lodge complaints.
The police station, which is currently being roofed, has a charge office, male, female and juvenile cells, as well as a four-unit office for the personnel, he said.
Mr Bisiw pledged the club’s commitment to equipping the youth to face future challenges, hence the provision of a community library for the Gbetsile Cluster of Schools, a less-endowed school within the metropolis.
He announced that the club was sponsoring about 700 school pupils from nursery through primary and junior high school level and called for support to fight illiteracy, malaria, hunger, AIDS and other forms of deprivation.
The immediate past President of the club, Mr Ben Richard Aniagyei, expressed profound appreciation to members for their support and assistance during his tenure of office.
He commended all companies, individuals and Rotarians whose contributions in cash and kind made it possible for the club to undertake its projects.
Mr Aniagyei urged the new president to work in close collaboration with his board members to achieve the club’s objectives.
The Rotary Club of Tema, which is currently distributing books worth over $45million to equip school and other institutional libraries, also called for public cooperation to help arrest the decline in the falling standards of education in the country.
Some Rotarians were presented with Paul Harris Fellowship awards for their humanitarian service.
PROGRAMME FOR ASHAIMAN WATCH COMMITTEES (OCT 2, PAGE 29)
THE Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, has announced that the municipal security committee is drawing up a programme to resource watchdog committees within the various electoral areas to improve security in the municipality.
The chief executive identified inadequate security, poor sanitary practices, as well as persistent fire outbreaks as major problems impeding development in the municipality.
He was addressing a forum organised by the Church of Christ Rural Water Development Project in partnership with the Ashaiman Traditional Council and Excellence Youth Development Centre, an Ashaiman-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).
He called on residents to collaborate with the assembly to ensure that the newly constituted Unit Committees in the municipality performed effectively.
The Co-ordinator of the Community Water and Sanitation Project, Ms Theodora Adomakomah-Adjei, expressed concern about the attitude of Ghanaians to sanitation and said that attitude was gradually becoming a norm in the country.
“It is surprising most people do not see anything wrong with indiscriminate littering of the environment and do not appreciate the need to practise simple hygiene, such as washing of hands with soap before meals,” Ms Adjei remarked.
The Municipal Fire Officer, Mr Victor Dzidzeme-Gawuga, took participants through fire prevention methods and urged residents to adhere to fire safety instructions to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks, which is predominant in the community.
Ms Magdalene Lamisi Sam Awinongya, a runner-up in TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful reality show, who is a resident of the municipality, appealed to the municipal assembly to consider establishing recreational facilities and youth centred-programmes which would divert the attention of the youth from engaging in anti-social vices.
She advised the youth to expend their energies on development programmes and create a positive image about Ashaiman, which is perceived to be a town noted for criminal activities.
Participants at the forum expressed regret at the slow pace of infrastructural development in the municipality and appealed to the assembly to take realistic measures to develop the area.
They also expressed disappointment at health care delivery in the community and appealed to stakeholders to collaborate with development agencies to meet the health needs of the people.
The chief executive identified inadequate security, poor sanitary practices, as well as persistent fire outbreaks as major problems impeding development in the municipality.
He was addressing a forum organised by the Church of Christ Rural Water Development Project in partnership with the Ashaiman Traditional Council and Excellence Youth Development Centre, an Ashaiman-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).
He called on residents to collaborate with the assembly to ensure that the newly constituted Unit Committees in the municipality performed effectively.
The Co-ordinator of the Community Water and Sanitation Project, Ms Theodora Adomakomah-Adjei, expressed concern about the attitude of Ghanaians to sanitation and said that attitude was gradually becoming a norm in the country.
“It is surprising most people do not see anything wrong with indiscriminate littering of the environment and do not appreciate the need to practise simple hygiene, such as washing of hands with soap before meals,” Ms Adjei remarked.
The Municipal Fire Officer, Mr Victor Dzidzeme-Gawuga, took participants through fire prevention methods and urged residents to adhere to fire safety instructions to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks, which is predominant in the community.
Ms Magdalene Lamisi Sam Awinongya, a runner-up in TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful reality show, who is a resident of the municipality, appealed to the municipal assembly to consider establishing recreational facilities and youth centred-programmes which would divert the attention of the youth from engaging in anti-social vices.
She advised the youth to expend their energies on development programmes and create a positive image about Ashaiman, which is perceived to be a town noted for criminal activities.
Participants at the forum expressed regret at the slow pace of infrastructural development in the municipality and appealed to the assembly to take realistic measures to develop the area.
They also expressed disappointment at health care delivery in the community and appealed to stakeholders to collaborate with development agencies to meet the health needs of the people.
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