The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Collins Augustine Ntim, has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of government policies and programmes by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
The Minister had scrutinised the operations of the KMA in the areas of agriculture, education and health during a monitoring and evaluation visit on Monday.
He was briefed by the Metro Director of Agriculture, the Metro Director of Education, and the Metro Director of the Ghana Health Services.
Mr. Ntim encouraged the KMA to make use of District Implementation Committees to ensure all government flagship programmes and policies were effectively implemented to impact on Ghanaians towards development.
The deputy Minister urged the KMA to gear its operations towards sustaining the gains in the fields it fared well, and make amends for poor performances in orders to push the development agenda of the government forward.
He cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) not to toy with the vision of the President to bring development to the people.
According to Mr. Paul Amo Korang, Metro Director of Agriculture, 132.4 hectares of land had been allotted for farming to improve the local economy by over 2495 farmers in 48 communities in the Metropolis.
The Metro Director of Education, Mr. David Oppong, reported that the performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was stagnant, for which two sets of Mock Exams, sponsored by the KMA and the five Members of Parliament, had been adopted to address the shortcomings.
The Education Director also disclosed that the Metro Education Oversight Committee had adopted an Education Strategic Plan, including Teachers Awards, for Best Teachers and School, to remedy some challenges.
He also mentioned periodic School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) and signing of Performance Contract with heads of Basic Schools to improve on standards.
Samuel Pyne, Mayor for Kumasi noted that the KMA is committed to working to improve the lot of the people in its jurisdiction and pledged the Assembly’s resolve to work to improve on its performance Agriculture, Education and Health sectors.
The Mayor appealed to the Minister for special concession in the quantum of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) s and other statutory funds as well as other supplies since the KMA comprises five constituencies in the Ashanti Region.
