The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has engaged residents of Tema Central in a two- day community needs assessment seminar to identify issues facing the development of the Metropolis.
The session touched briefly on the problems that were identified last year in the constituency, progress made to resolve them and the challenges faced.
Mr. Godsway Kotoku, an official of the TMA Planning Department, said the objectives of the seminar was to bring development closer to the people and engage citizens on how to initiate their own actions, involve them in the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects.
He appealed to the residents to help the Assembly identify some of the development gaps such as the over stretched transportation system and ancillary facilities, inadequate socio-economic facilities, poor environmental and sanitation conditions (sewer system and industrial pollution) and poor housing conditions (slums).
Mr Kotoku said some of the achievements chalked after last year’s meeting include 50 per cent completion of the Tema morgue, 55 per cent completion of the fencing of the Community 09, 95 per cent completion of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park phase one and funding of caterers on the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
In an open discussion Mr Benjamin Baisie, resident of Community 07, suggested that TMA enter into private partnership with able and willing individuals and companies to construct social amenities to reduce pressure on existing facilities.
Madam Janet Doe, a resident, promised to identify persons who dispose of refuse indiscriminately and engage in other anti-social activities in the community.
