Massive dev't hits Ga East

The Ga East Municipal Assembly led by Hon. John Kwao Sackey has taken the President John Mahama's policy of "Changing lives, Transforming Ghana" Agenda, to its peak with a massive infrastructural development.

The infrastructural development which have become a hallmark of the president Mahama's administration have gained deep roots in the entire municipality which many residents say such development has never happened in the area.

In an exclusive interview with The Republic newspaper recently, the MCE said upon assumption of office, he vowed to rock shoulders with other municipalities across the country, so he adopted a number of noteworthy policies to see to it that the president dreams of transformational agenda was achieved.

One of policies which he nursed was how to complete an assemble complex which was abandoned at the foundation level by the Kufuor led government at the cost of GHC 2.9 billion.

He said when he took over he revived the idea of building the office complex to safe the assembly from dolling out huge sums of money on renting of an office which was not even conditioned and big enough to house all the departments.

The MCE noted that magnificent three-storey building assembly office complex has been completed and now occupied by himself and all the departments is at the cost of over GHC 5 billion.

Arguably, Municipality, headed by the MCE who said he is an innovative and a transformational leader has become one of the most enviable municipalities within the capital city, Accra.

Inquiring from the MCE the secret behind the massive improvement of the area within the short period, Hon John Sackey indicated that the assembly was keen on implementing the tenets of the "Transforming Ghana, changing lives" Agenda, so he involved all stakeholders, community leaders as well as opinions leaders to his three year agenda for all communities with the municipalities.

Although, he accepted the fact that there were a number of challenges confronting the assembly before he assumed office, he said he met with stakeholders of the area to make his intentions known to them on the need to adopt strategic measures to address the problems.

"I made them aware that I wanted to ensure that most of the uncompleted projects initiated by the previous administration were completed. I told them we as a people needed to put on measures to ensure that our municipality is able to compete with others in terms of development, job creation and cleanliness". I had their full support," he told The Republic with a soft smile.

On how he was able to execute such projects with financial constraints being inevitable, the MCE according to insider sources who inherited an indebted assembly noted that the assembly tried on improving their revenue base by focusing on the collection of taxes remitted by banks and private companies operating in the municipality as well as fast tracking business permits in order to encourage private companies to invest in the area.

"This gave us a good picture and solid foundation to facelift the status of the municipality," he intimated.

According to him, after completing previous projects, and the acquisition of acres of land purposely for developmental projects, the assembly under his leadership delve into new projects including executing major school blocks to stop the shift system in the area.

Hon Sackey added that almost schools under trees have eliminated and provided with permanent structures in all communities in the Municipality.

He said amidst difficulties t Municipal Assembly has completed the first phase of construction of stalls at the Dome market at a cost of GH¢101, 538.00 and the market women are now happy with the government for keeping to its promise.

He also noted that the other Markets within the municipality will soon be transformed it into an ultra-modern market centres with have sheds, lockable stores and ancillary facilities for the comfort of the traders.

He disclosed that serious construction works on major roads, culverts and drainage systems are underway across the assembly and at the northern area of the municipality and therefore pleaded with residents of those areas to be patient with the assembly

This massive development, however, triggered the young and accessible MCE to come out with an elaborate development programme to take care of communities left out, by giving them their share of social amenities and other poverty alleviation initiatives.

Various road networks in the municipality have received a major boast, ranging from reshaping and construction and rehabilitation and tarring, which has brought life back to the area.