The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has held a public hearing on the assembly’s 2022-2025draft Medium-Term Development Plan for the people of Sekondi.
The proposed overall goal of the 2022-2025 Medium-Term Development Plan is to “Improve the quality of life for people in the metropolis within a public-private partnership growth environment, and reduce poverty by expanding opportunities for all”.
The plan is geared toward the current national development focus and planning regulations to ensure that there is a balance between bottom-up and top-down interventions to enhance efficiency in project identification, formulation, planning, resource mobilisation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to achieve an equitable and sustainable development.
“As we chart our way forward, the plan will guide the Metropolitan Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU), various departments and other local development actors in achieving the desired medium-term goals and objectives of the metropolis,” Abdul-Mumin Issah, Chief Executive Officer of STMA has said.
He explained that this plan will not only provide critical public services, but also facilitate the creation of wealth and jobs for the teeming unemployed youth to support the Ghana Beyond-Aid transformation agenda.
The assembly, according to him, will ensure that the planning process takes into consideration harmonisation of spatial planning and effective participation from all key stakeholders.
He outlined some of the key projects proposed within the medium-term through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as: redevelopment of Sekondi market; development of a Modern Bus Terminal in Sekondi; redevelopment of Takoradi Market Circle Phase II; and development of a modern Multi-storey Car Park at Takoradi.
The rest he mentioned are: enhancing the Transit Terminal for Haulage Trucks at Sofokrom; development of a Craft Village (Centre for National Culture) at Fijai; construction of a Modern Fish Market at Sekondi; as well as the construction of additional Modern Garages at Kokompe (Takoradi and Kansaworado/Mampong); development of town houses and model affordable houses.
To end open defecation in the metropolis, the MCE said the assembly will partner with the STMA-Citywide Settlement Upgrading Fund and other WASH CSOs to mobilise funding for the construction of 5,000 household toilets facilities in low-income communities.
In the medium-term, he said, the assembly will partner the World University Service of Canada to implement a project called ‘Innovation in Non-Traditional Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST)’ for Urban Poor Women aged between 18 to 35 (not limited to 35 for those under mastercraftsmen/women).
The project, he said, aims at building sustainable pathways to enhance economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth for at least 1,500 young women in the metropolis.
“While the ‘INVEST’ project will support the promotion of young women into a wide range of non-traditional TVET training programmes, the following clusters of high demand trades and occupations are identified as areas of interest: automotive mechanic; automotive electricals; welding and fabrication technology; electronics; electrical installation; and computer hardware, coding and networking,” he added.
Mr. Issah reiterated government’s commitment to the good people of Sekondi-Takoradi in executing projects which have started, or are in their final stage of actual commencement.
These, he revealed, are redevelopment of Takoradi Market Circle (Phase 1); construction of PTC interchange at Takoradi; and dualisation of the Sekondi-Secko Junction Road.
“It is my utmost belief that the intimate participation by a cross-section of community members during identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes will guarantee the achievement of key objectives of decentralisation and the targets of this plan,” he said.
“As a metropolis, we have no doubt whatsoever that judicious use of resources, timely implementation of development strategies, effective monitoring and evaluation, efficient community involvement in all developmental interventions will guide us toward our desired development level. It is our hope that this plan will contribute immensely to Ghana’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
He pointed out that the Medium-Term Plan has thought-provoking proposals which have the potential to transform the metropolis and make Sekondi-Takoradi resilient and the best place to live.
“I therefore appeal to all stakeholders, including our development partners, to support implementation of this plan to achieve the envisaged Medium-Term Goals and Objectives for the metropolis, and together we can make Sekondi-Takoradi great again,” he concluded.
