K.K. Sam- Sekondi-Takoradi MCE
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly’s (STMA’s) effort at improving revenue collection is yielding positive results.
This is because; the assembly had been able to collect GH?2, 477,597.45 at the end of the first quarter of this year. This represents a 27.2 per cent of the GH?9,106,981.44 revenue target for the year.
This was higher than the GH?2,339.974 collected at the same period last year.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Anthony Kobina Kurentsir Sam also called K.K Sam disclosed this at the First Ordinary Meeting of the 3rd Session of the Seventh Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, last Friday.
He, however, indicated that the assembly was unable to execute much capital projects from its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) because the salaries of staff on the IGF were virtually consuming the revenue.
Roads
He announced that two contracts worth GH?4,063,970 were awarded to Messrs Kingspok Construction Work Limited for pothole patching, resealing and grading works in both Sekondi and Takoradi during the first quarter of the year.
“Grading works will be undertaken metro-wide, where there are major gravel and earth roads. Resealing works will be carried out at areas such as Adiembra, Kweikuma, Railway and GPHA staff quarters in Takoradi”, he added.
He mentioned that plans are afoot for the conversion of the Kwame Nkrumah roundabout into an interchange and that the road to Shippers roundabout would be converted into a standard dual carriageway with bicycle lane and pedestrian walkway on either side.
“Similarly, the Cape Coast road will also be converted into a dual lane for 500 metres from the interchange”, he added.
He also revealed that approval had been given by the Railway Ministry for the construction of four foot bridges over the railway line at Kojokrom, Nkotompo, Bakaekyir to Adiembra and New Takolradi.
Fishing
Mr K.K Sam noted that the assembly intended to utilize part of its 2018 District Development Fund allocation to improve fishing activities and to provide satellite markets adding “the assembly will also construct three partitioned market sheds at Essikado, Bakaekyir and Kojokrom at the cost of GH?630,000.
He continued that “Part of the fund will also be used for the construction of a fish smoking and processing facility for fishmongers at the Sekondi beach. The facility will include the paving of a 50 metre walkway and this will go for a contract sum of GH?400,000.”
Planting for Food & Jobs
The Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor mentioned that the Planting for Food and Jobs programme in the metropolis had been expanded to include maize and cassava.
“Initially, the programme covered only vegetables. 220 farmers have been registered and the Metro Department of Agriculture has received 40 kilograms of maize seed for distribution to farmers.
“The department is also expecting to receive 360 bags of NPK fertilizer and 180 bags of Urea fertilizer for their activities”, he disclosed.
Mr. Sam indicated that the assembly had started a four acre maize farm at Mampong and that in the medium term, the STMA intended to plant sweet pepper and cabbage after harvesting the maize.
Waste Management
The MCE pointed out that new solid waste service providers had started work in their respective zones and were doing well after overcoming some initial challenges.
He also indicated that the assembly had desilted most drains in the flood prone areas of the metropolis with the exercise still ongoing.
“Hopefully, there will be no major flooding in the metropolis during the rainy season. So far, the major drains that have been desilted include Kansaworodo to Ntankoful; Nkotompo to Essaman; Coast to Coast area at Anaji to Asare Oppong School”, he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi