The Municipal Chief Executive of the Kpone Katamanso Municipality, Hon. Solomon T. Appiah accompanied by some key staff and Assembly members on 2nd June, 2021 visited the Gbetsile electoral area to interact face to face with residents and address concerns bothering on their development. The engagement program was part of deepening the decentralization process by enhancing grassroots participation and involvement in the decision-making process.
The Assembly member for the Gbetsile electoral area, Hon Abdul-Rahim Yahaya in his opening remarks commended the MCE and other top officials of the Assembly for taking time off their busy schedule to participate in the community engagement program. He also encouraged the inhabitants of Gbetsile to freely communicate all their challenges to the MCE and his team for an amicable solution.
The head of department for NCCE, Mr. Seth Sotie used the opportunity to sensitize the gathering on the impending 2021 Population & Housing Census. He explained the relevance of the census to them and entreated all and sundry to avail themselves for this all important exercise.
The Presiding Member and chairman of the Public Relations and Complaints Committee (PRCC), Hon. Joseph Gbeze educated inhabitants of Gbetsile on the roles of the PRCC. He explained that the PRCC was set up to address pertinent issues such as abuse of office, allegations against Assembly members, sanitation issues and any other issue that can hinder the development of residents across the Municipality. He encouraged residents to channel such matters through the PRCC for redress.
The Presiding Member Hon. Joseph Gbeze sensitizing residents on the role of the PRCC.
The MCE, for his part touched on several issues such as the construction of roads and bridges, drain/gutters, schools, flooding, land litigation, security, Covid -19 pandemic, installation of street lights, among others. He appealed to residents to always bring their challenges to the Assembly to be resolved instead of burning car tires or embarking on demonstrations to get attention. Hon. Appiah noted that financial constraints is a major challenge facing the Assembly. He therefore implored everyone to pay their property rates, business operating permits and all other taxes so that the Assembly can generate enough revenue to provide more infrastructure. He assured the residents of Gbetsile that construction works will soon commence on a bridge that will not benefit only Gbetsile but Zenu and Katamanso as well. He added that the Assembly will also provide a market and a lorry station for the inhabitants of Gbetseli. He also advised those present in the meeting to acquire a valid building permit from the Assembly before putting up a building. Hon. Appiah advised land owners to desist from selling the same plot of land to two or more people because they can be jailed for 7- 15 years. The MCE again advised all and sundry to be responsible citizens by exposing armed robbers in the society.
Hon. Solomon T. Tetteh addressing the gathering at Gbetsile.
Residents who had the opportunity to talk revealed that some of their foremost challenges includes lack of infrastructure, sanitation, poor road network, security and high rate of unemployment.
Inhabitants of Gbetseli at the community engagement.
