Cape Coast — The Mayor of the Cape Coast Metropolis, Mr. Anthony Egyir Aikins, became the toast of the assembly members last week, when he enumerated a number of projects to be undertaken in the metropolis, during his sessional address to the assembly in Cape Coast.
This was after the assembly had debated on the previous meeting, where the failure of Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to implement the requested 30% computerised schools selection placement for local schools in Cape Coast, dominated discussions.
Also the assembly members were furious at the inability of a contractor in completing a children's library project, following the injection of GH¢20,000 by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast, Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro.
The Coordinating Director of the assembly, Mr. Peter Dery, assured the assembly members that he would ensure that the contractor finished the project on time.
The assembly members asked the Metropolitan Authority to trace the contractor to come back to the site and complete the library complex.
The assembly members exhibited their English prowess on the floor, as they corrected some grammatical errors in the minutes of their previous sitting, to the admiration of media personnel present.
Among the projects the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) mentioned were being done to transform the ancient city was the Pedu Junction interchange and some road construction.
Interchange at Pedu Junction
The MCE announced that the government had approved the construction of an interchange at the Pedu Junction to ease traffic, and also give the metropolis a new outlook.
This was received by the assembly members who shouted, 'honourable, honourable.'
The Pedu Junction interchange has been on the drawing board for quite a long time, but the announcement by Mr. Aikins gave hope to the assembly members, who have promised to leave a legacy during their term of office.
According to the Mayor, plans were far advanced to upgrade the road network in the metropolis, to ensure smooth the unimpeded flow of traffic as a way of attracting investors.
Construction of Bridge over Fosu Lagoon
The MCE in his address touched the hearts of many Cape Coasters, when he announced that the government had also approved the construction of a proper bridge with aesthetic appeal on the Fosu Lagoon, to replace the broken one, which had made linking Cape Coast to the District Hospital, Ola and St. Augustine's College, among other places, very difficult.
On the lagoon, he said plans were also far advanced for the dredging of the lagoon to take place.
In addition, he said construction of new culverts at Ekon and Ankaful had been included.
Kotokuraba Market
The Kotokuraba Market, he said, would be redeveloped into a modern market complex, and that an eight-member committee, chaired by him, had been set up to oversee the implementation of the project, set to become a model central business district in the region.
He said the welfare of some inhabitants would be affected by the exercise, and other related issues that may crop up.
Relocation of Police and Prisons to pave way for modern beach resorts
The MCE sought the approval from the members to re-locate the artisans on the banks of the Fosu Lagoon to Mpeasem, where a modern industrial city would be created to attract more investors.
He also made it clear that plans were advanced to re-locate the District Police Station and Prisons Quarters along the beach of Cape Coast, to pave way for the construction of modern beach resorts at the beaches.
German Ambassador to launch Sister-city with Bonn in February Mr. Aikins announced that the Cape Coast-Bonn sister-city relations, which was initiated by the former MCE, Ms Mercy Arhin, and Nana Ato Arthur, the former Regional Minister, was expected to be launched by the German Ambassador to Ghana, Dr. Marius Hass, in Cape Coast next February, while the Portland City in Oregon, USA, was in contact with the assembly, seeking to establish another sister-city relations with Cape Coast, following the visit of President Barack Obama to Cape Coast in July.
Cape Coast Sports Stadium
The Mayor said the Cape Coast Sports Stadium would become a reality, and asked the people to exercise patience. He said a German Minister, Amin Laschett, who visited the region in June this year, said the North Rhine Westphalia, a team of sports experts, would arrived in Cape Coast to develop sports in the metropolis, such as swimming and soccer, that will include the physically challenged. He said two experts from Germany were expected in the country to help undertake the project. He added that the FIFA Play Soccer Ghana had relocated to Cape Coast, and had already acquired land at the Mfantsipim School, and expressed the hope that these projects would help solve streetism and youth unemployment.
Conclusion
The assembly members were of high spirits and patted each other on the backs for being part of the current assembly system, which is poised to see the transformation of the ancient city. The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Nana Awuku, who handled the assembly with authority, said Cape Coast would see a transformation in infrastructural development, and called on all the residents to support the assembly in its implementation of the planned projects
