The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council has organised a stakeholders’ forum to inform them on the progress of work on developmental projects from 2017-2024 and to account for his stewardship as the Regional Minister.
The forum, held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi yesterday, provided the stakeholders the opportunity to engage the Sector Minister. It was also attended by MMDAs, Heads of various security agencies and chiefs.
Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister disclosed that the region had made headway in the areas of Health, Roads, Security, Education infrastructure and Sanitation, and thus moved from the last and second ranking in the Health and Roads sectors respectively.
The Minister said three of the nine hospitals under construction, on assumption of office, have been commissioned and in use currently at Bekwai, Tepa and Fomena.
Agenda 111
The Regional Minister noted that numerous health infrastructure have also been initiated during his tenure, among which is the 19 Agenda 111 projects allocated to the region, three Infectious Disease Centres at Nkenkaasu, Atonsu-Agogo and Bosomtwe, and also 5 polyclinics with that of Sabronum completed besides the allocation of 49 ambulances to the Ashanti region.
Security
Touching on security Osei-Mensah, said “I am the luckiest Regional Minister with the best security personnel”, which has enabled him to drastically reduce the crime rate and curb the herdsmen menace at Asante-Akyem Agogo during his tenure. He said the various security agencies have benefited from 78 projects.
Roads
On roads, the Regional Minister disclosed that the region has 374 road projects since 2017, covering over 2,000 kilometers, including the Apatrapa Junction to Abuakwa and the Ahwiankwanta-Obuasi road.
Education
Osei-Mensah disclosed that Ashanti Region with the highest number of SHS (141) has benefited most from Free SHS policy adding that the region has 1,174 education projects, with 957 completed among which are the Creative Arts School at Kwadaso, KTI workshop and Bosomtwe Girls School.
Other projects
The Regional Minister disclosed that the region had not experienced flooding as previously due to “conscious efforts and policies” noting that MMDAs are compelled to drain gutters in their respective jurisdiction under the supervision of NADMO in the month of “March” every year.
Other projects include 37 out of 69 markets completed and 19 out of 69 Astro Turf completed.
He also mentioned other major projects as the Prempeh I International Airport, Boankra Inland Port, Kejetia Market Phase II and the Local Government University, among others and wondered why some people still claim the NPP government led by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has not done much for the Ashanti region.
From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi
