Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has lauded the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) for stepping up development efforts to improve the living conditions of the people.
She said the Ministry was impressed with the various socio-economic projects currently being executed by the Assembly, and advised the contractors working on them to work assiduously for their successful completion.
Hon. Hajia Mahama, who was interacting with the media after a two-day inspection of some projects in Kumasi, said the government believed in pursuing pro-poor policies since it was the panacea to alleviating the plight of Ghanaians.
â??We are a government with the welfare of the people at heartâ??, she noted, adding that they were determined to deliver on their campaign promises for the benefit of the masses.
Projects inspected by the Hon. Minister, accompanied by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, and other officials from the Ministry included an ultra-modern theatre and maternity ward at the Maternal and Childrenâ??s Hospital (MCH), which is about 95 per cent complete.
Initiated by the KMA, it is being funded by the Urban Development Grant (UDG) under the World Bank, to advance maternal and child healthcare.
The facility constructed in 1910 is the third oldest health facility in the country, and expected to release pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where emergency cases from the MCH are referred.
Hon. Hajia Mahama also familiarized herself with the Sofo-Line Lorry Terminal, which is being funded by the UDG to ease congestion at the Central Business District (CBD), where most of the vehicles had been parking.
The facility comes with a waiting shed, police station, stores and a water reservoir to serve the water needs of drivers and passengers.
It is about 60 per cent complete, and expected to serve as the converging point for about 21 transport unions.
The Minister further toured the completed Old Tafo and Asawase market projects, which was funded under the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme (GUMPP), to enhance trading activities.
Another projects inspected by the Minister was the Prempeh Assembly Hall rehabilitation project, which was about 70 per cent.
The rest are Oti Sanitary Landfill site, Sokoban Wood Village, Kyirapatre and Anwomaso Lorry terminals, New Agogo Market, Race Course Works to resettle traders, as well as the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.
Hon. Assibey Antwi said the Assembly was focused on improving the standard of living of residents through viable projects and programmes. He also assured the traders who were relocated for the GUMPP projects that they will have their shops back when the time is due for allocation.