THE METROPOLITAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF STMA PROMISES GREATER PROSPECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Hon. Fredrick Faustinus Faidoo, has highlighted key development initiatives to create employment opportunities, improve sanitation, strengthen disaster preparedness, and enhance the overall development of the metropolis.

Speaking at the Third Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Ninth General Assembly of the STMA in Sekondi, the MCE disclosed that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development was implementing the Aquaculture Community Commercialization Programme (AQUACCOP), an initiative designed to increase domestic fish production, create employment opportunities and strengthen food security through community-based aquaculture enterprises. Hon. Faidoo announced that 100 youth in the Metropolis have been trained in modern fish-farming techniques and supported with essential inputs to commence commercial fish farming.

On disaster management, the MCE disclosed that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had distributed relief items to 65 persons affected by the recent fire outbreak at the Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbour. He said the intervention was intended to alleviate the hardship of the affected persons and support their recovery. He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to building a disaster-resilient metropolis, explaining that STMA joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 United Nations International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) with a symposium to discuss practical strategies for reducing disaster risks within local communities.

To promote inclusivity and create opportunities for People with Disability (PWDs) in the Metropolis, Hon. Faidoo said 82 people and 4 Disability Associations received business development items and financial support for economic activities, and payment of education and medical bills at a total cost of GH¢386,854.40 during the period under review.

Reporting on sanitation, the MCE said some long-standing waste heaps have been cleared, management of the engineered landfill improved, lifting and disposal of communal waste containers improved, and cases of overflowing communal containers reduced significantly across the Metropolis. He further announced that the Assembly has secured a temporary arrangement with a private service provider for an additional skip truck to improve waste collection and disposal. Additionally, managers of communal refuse container sites were engaged and directed to approve operating hours, site cleanliness, and comply with franchise agreements. Hon. Faidoo added that the Assembly’s heavy-duty backhoe loader, which has been faulty for some time, has been repaired and is expected to improve the operational capacity of drain desilting and waste evacuation.

On roads, Hon. Faidoo noted that the Assembly, through the Department of Roads, continued routine road maintenance and safety interventions, including road line markings, installation of traffic signs, pothole patching, and replacement of defective metal gratings. He also reported significant progress on major road construction and rehabilitation projects in the Metropolis, including the reconstruction of Fijai Road, the Greater Sekondi-Takoradi Roads rehabilitation project, Cape Coast Road reconstruction, and section of Sekondi Beach Road repair works. Additionally, the grading and gravelling of selected unpaved roads, as well as the installation of rumble strips and warning signs at high-risk locations within Sekondi, have been programmed and are awaiting commencement, he said.

The MCE also indicated that the Assembly has intensified efforts to promote Active Mobility, particularly walking and cycling, as a means of transportation. The challenge, according to the MCE, is inadequate pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes in the Metropolis. To address this, he urged the General Assembly to pass a resolution requiring all future road development projects in the Metropolis to include safe and accessible pedestrian walkways and dedicated cycling lanes, in line with applicable national standards and technical requirements.

Hon. Fredrick Faidoo also provided an update on thirteen (13) projects being undertaken by the Assembly with funding from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). The projects, which include Community Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds, classroom blocks, Mechanized Boreholes, and water Closet Toilet facilities, are at various stages of implementation.

In his remarks, the Member of Parliament for the Takoradi Constituency, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, expressed concern about the rate of youth unemployment and the pressure it places on parents who invest in their children’s education and upbringing with the hope that they will eventually secure employment and contribute to household welfare.

Hon. Darko-Mensah emphasized that cities thrive on ideas, creativity and entrepreneurship, stressing the need to create platforms that enable young people to contribute meaningfully to Takoradi’s development. In this regard, he disclosed that his office intended to organize a youth summit in February 2027. He encouraged Assembly Members to identify talented and innovative young people within their electoral areas who could benefit from the initiative and receive support to transform their ideas and visions into reality.

On sanitation, the MP acknowledged that the metropolis continued to grapple with sanitation challenges. He stressed that maintaining a clean environment was a fundamental responsibility of local authorities and called for practical measures to strengthen the monthly National Sanitation Day exercise. He proposed that more resources be allocated to Assembly Members to support monthly community clean-up exercises and sustain efforts towards achieving a cleaner metropolis.

Touching on flooding, he expressed hope that the Assembly would allocate substantial resources to desilt drains and implement other flood-mitigation measures. He emphasized that residents expected sustainable action from the Assembly’s leadership to address recurring flooding challenges.

The meeting allowed the Assembly Members to deliberate on key development priorities and identify practical interventions to promote employment, improve sanitation, strengthen disaster preparedness, and enhance the safety and resilience of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.