<\/p>\n
Dorothy Frances Ward<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kumasi, Dec. 20. GNA \u2013 Mr Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has charged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to work closely with the various security agencies to combat crimes in their areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He said with resurgence of criminal activities in the neighbouring countries and the threat of terrorists activities in the West African sub-region, it would be of great importance for the MMDAs to support and work close with security agencies to protect the people in their jurisdiction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr Osei Mensah made the call at the meeting of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) in Kumasi.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The meeting was attended by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from the region, regional and district security heads, and other key stakeholders from the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Regional Minister said as part of efforts to reduce criminal activities during the Christmas period, the RCC would distribute 400 street lights to the various municipal and district assemblies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He commended the security agencies for working hard to maintain peace, order, and stability in the region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr Osei Mensah pointed out that though the fight against illegal mining was still on in the region, the activities of the miners continued to pose as a security threat in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He said illegal mining activities were still rife in about 18 districts in the region and that was causing serious environmental health to the people in the affected communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The regional Minister stressed the need for the chiefs in the region to actively take part in the fight against illegal mining in their communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He called for peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups in the communities to always ensure peace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr Osei Mensah charged the MMDAs to step up efforts at revenue mobilization to raise the needed funds to support their development initiatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He also charged them to enforce their bye-laws by preventing people from building on water ways and other unauthorized places.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Regional Minister said the upgrading of most feeder and urban roads in the region had been completed and more of them would be completed by next year, adding that the Bantama, Manhyia, Subin and Asokwa roads had all been rehabilitated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He added that all inner roads would also be rehabilitated and dualized to ease traffic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Minister took the opportunity to remind the public that COVID \u2013 19 pandemic was still in the air and that the citizenry must vaccinate fully to prevent its spread.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GNA\u00a0<\/p>\n