By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Acra, Dec. 14, GNA – Mr Samuel Nii Adjei
Tawiah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Korle Klottey Municipality, has
said the Assembly is putting in place strategies to modernise the market
section of the Tema station.
This forms part of efforts being made by the
Assembly to improve upon infrastructure within the municipality- especially
markets to reduce congestion, street hawking and widen its revenue mobilisation
base.
He said the Assembly has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese construction firm to offer technical
assistance to redevelop the market without tampering with the lorry terminals.
Mr Adjei Tawiah made this known at a Town
Hall Meeting organised by the Assembly under the theme: “Stakeholder
Participation and Engagements in Decision Making.”
The Chief Executive said “we have had
initial discussions with a Chinese firm that is willing to partner with us
because we want to do something that is a bit modern and also be able to
accommodate enough of the transport that goes to that area.
“We have been able to sign MoU in that
regard and their technical team are expected to meet our technical team which
will be happening next week so that detailed work will begin.”
The meeting was to enable the Assembly
present its plan and budget for the coming year and solicit stakeholders and
development partners inputs.
Other markets in the municipality to see a
facelift include the Pedestrian Shopping Mall, Osu market, Odawna market and
Adabraka markets among others, the MCE said.
Mr Alex Amoah, the Municipal Planning
Officer, said the Assembly intends to rehabilitate some dilapidated school
blocks, construct a three-storey 18 unit classroom block at Osu and convert the
maternity clinic at Osu into a polyclinic.
He said the Assembly would also initiate an
intervention that would encourage farming activities especially in fish and
mushroom farming.
Mr Amoah said the Assembly has projected an
amount of GH¢14.1 million in revenue mobilisation and hopes to increase its
Internally Generated Fund by 25 per cent in the coming year.
He said it also intends to widen its revenue
mobilisation base by issuing out tickets electronically to all markets and
lorry stations to seal all loopholes, construct new lorry terminals and
markets, among others.
Stakeholders at the meeting urged the
Assembly to review the amount it charges as property rates to enable it
maximize its revenues.
They said the amount the assembly charged
some property owners as rates within the municipality was below standard and
this has impeded the assembly’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
“Some have even redeveloped and upgraded
their properties which should therefore come with improved or extra property
fees but they continue to pay the old rates,” Mr Victor Dowuona, a resident
said.
GNA
