Effia Kwesimintsim to Witness Major Development Gains – MCE Tells Parliament
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Effia Kwesimintsim, Hon. Majeed Iddrisu, has highlighted development gains in healthcare, education, water supply, sanitation, drainage infrastructure and youth employment, assuring residents of the Assembly’s commitment to sustained development.
He gave the assurance when he appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Local Government on Friday, October 9, 2026, to brief members on the municipality’s development projects, revenue mobilisation, road infrastructure, implementation of the government’s 24-hour economy initiative and security situation.
Mr. Iddrisu said the municipality’s 11 communities were benefiting from interventions aimed at improving living conditions and expanding access to essential services, with some communities experiencing improvements in basic infrastructure for the first time.
“We are making a lot of progress. Most of our communities are experiencing some kind of development for the first time in areas of health, education, sanitation, and even water,” he said.
24-Hour Market Project Progresses
Providing an update on the government’s 24-hour economy initiative, the MCE said work was progressing on the district model market, popularly known as the 24-hour market.
He expressed optimism that the project, when completed, would boost commercial activities, support local businesses and create economic opportunities for residents.
On drainage infrastructure, Mr. Iddrisu said the Assembly had undertaken storm-drain construction and replaced some round culverts with box culverts to improve water flow and reduce flooding.
According to him, the interventions had produced encouraging results, with some communities experiencing less flooding during the previous rainy season than in earlier years.
“We have been able to connect most of our drains and change some round culverts into box culverts, which have had a positive impact on flooding. Some communities that experienced flooding in previous years did not experience the same situation last rainy season,” he stated.
Healthcare and Water Supply Receive Attention: The MCE identified healthcare delivery as a major priority, disclosing that several communities were benefiting from new or improved health facilities and staff accommodation.
He said some communities were receiving clinic facilities for the first time, while accommodation had also been provided for staff serving in selected Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.
He further disclosed that a Health Centre had been fenced following land-related challenges, while staff accommodation for a Clinic in the Municipality had been completed.
Procurement processes were also underway to facilitate the construction of a health centre in some hard-to-reach communities, he added.
On access to potable water, Mr Iddrisu said the Assembly had supported communities with boreholes, with some receiving one or two facilities to improve access to safe drinking water.
“These projects are evidence that we are making progress. We are not where we inherited from; we have moved forward, and the projects we are undertaking demonstrate that commitment,” he said.
Assembly Records 54% Revenue Performance
Addressing revenue mobilisation, Mr Iddrisu disclosed that the Assembly had achieved approximately 54 per cent of its annual Internally Generated Fund (IGF) target as of October 2026.
He explained that revenue collection typically increased during the final quarter of the year, when the Assembly intensified its mobilisation exercises targeting business operating permits, property rates and other local revenue sources.
He said the performance compared favourably with the previous year, when collections at a similar period were reportedly below 40 per cent.
“Normally, during the last quarter of the year, we undertake mop-up exercises through our task force, and that is when much of our revenue comes in,” he told the committee.
The MCE expressed confidence that the Assembly could meet or exceed its annual revenue target if the planned intensified collection exercise yielded the expected results.
However, he acknowledged that the timing of revenue payments presented challenges, as businesses and property owners who settled their obligations towards the end of one year were sometimes reluctant to make further payments in the first quarter of the following year.
Funding Constraints Slow Major Road Projects
On road infrastructure, Mr. Iddrisu said the Assembly had assessed deteriorating roads and submitted reports to the relevant authorities, including the Department of Urban Roads, for attention.
He said some improvements had been undertaken through the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), while work on feeder and urban roads continued.
However, he acknowledged that the municipality had not secured dedicated funding for major road construction and related procurement during the period under review.
“We have not experienced any road procurement during the one and a half years I have been in office because we have not received funding for that purpose. But improvements on our feeder roads and urban roads are ongoing,” he said.
He added that the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme was also passing through the municipality, raising hopes for improved road connectivity.
On concerns about the possible withdrawal of DRIP equipment, the MCE said the Assembly had made budgetary allocations to support the programme and was taking steps to sustain its operations.
Assembly Invests in Youth Skills and Employment
Mr. Iddrisu said the Assembly was investing in vocational and technical training to equip young people with practical skills relevant to employment opportunities within the municipality.
He explained that industrial activities in the area had created demand for operators of heavy-duty equipment, prompting the Assembly to organise training in the operation of DRIP machinery, forklifts, and other heavy equipment.
According to him, about 100 young people benefited from training initiatives in the previous year, while arrangements were underway to train an additional 50 people in dump-truck operation in Kumasi.
Women had also benefited from skills training in bead-making, soap-making and other small-scale trades intended to improve their livelihoods.
The MCE disclosed that 60 people had benefited from the National Apprenticeship Programme, while approximately 70 others were expected to benefit from the Youth Employment Programme.
“We are progressively touching on every aspect of human development. We are training the youth to acquire the requisite skills to meet the demands of the market, while also supporting women to develop skills that can help them earn a living,” he said.
MCE Assures Residents of Peace and Security
On security, Mr. Iddrisu described the municipality as relatively peaceful, noting that the Assembly had not recorded major incidents that warranted widespread concern.
He said the main security challenges involved occasional theft and burglary, while reported chieftaincy disputes and other disturbances remained limited and manageable.
He attributed the relatively calm situation partly to the work of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), public education and community engagement.
The MCE also commended the Ghana National Fire Service for its fire-safety education programmes, particularly those targeting market women.
He said the training had helped traders respond effectively to a potential fire incident at one of the municipality’s markets.
On drug abuse among vulnerable young people, Mr. Iddrisu said the Assembly had shifted towards sensitisation and community engagement rather than relying solely on periodic raids and arrests.
“We have moved away from the usual swoops where people are arrested and later released. We are now focusing on sensitisation about the dangers of drug use and the need for young people to avoid substances that can destroy their lives,” he said.
He stressed that regular engagement between local authorities and residents was essential to maintaining peace and preventing crime.
“We are very accessible and close to our residents. We are undertaking programmes that allow people to reach us directly,” he added.
The MCE reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to improving public services, expanding infrastructure and empowering young people, while acknowledging that additional funding would be necessary to accelerate major road projects and other development initiatives.
Source: Felix Nyaaba | ExpressNewsGhana.com
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