Mr. Elijah Adansi-Bonah, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (DCE), said the redevelopment of AngloGold Ashanti and the establishment of a Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus in Obuasi has increased population growth in the municipality.
It has also put undue pressure on social amenities there, highlighting the need to accelerate the pace of development to meet the growing demands of the people, he said.
Mr. Adansi-Bonah was speaking at a public meeting organized by the Assembly as part of deepening the concept of decentralization and strengthening social accountability to the people.
The Assembly presented its main achievements since 2017 and received feedback from the people to contribute to its short and long-term development plans.
“We have already built major drains this year with funds from the Ghana Secondary Towns Support Program but due to pressure on social amenities here, we want to be proactive in committing more resources to build more drains to prevent flooding,” the DCE said.
On security, Mr. Adansi-Bonah said the Municipal Security Council had put in place measures to prevent communal violence, which had tarnished Obuasi’s image.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng, MP for Obuasi West, said plans to establish a technical university in the municipality are underway.
The government has launched many projects to have a positive impact on people’s lives when completed, he said and called for supporting the government to transform the region.
The MP expressed concern over the recent events at Ashanti Gold Football Club which has served as a source of recreation for the people of Obuasi and surrounding areas for more than four decades.
He said his office was engaging the Municipal Assembly and club management to see how best to restore its past glory.
Mr. Joseph Asibi Bashir, Municipal Planning Officer, said that the Assembly, since 2017, has made key investments in education, health and road infrastructure, including repairing roads in Obuasi town. and that of Anwiankwanta.
Ms. Edna Vivian Arko, Municipal Budget Analyst, announced that there will be no significant increase in fees and tariffs next year, given the current economic situation in the country.