SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES REGIONAL MINISTER

In line with his mandate to familiarize himself with all districts in the region, the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, paid a working visit to the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), where he met management and staff during a brief durbar.

Addressing the staff, the Minister acknowledged the diverse skills assembled within the various departments of the Assembly, noting that such expertise should positively impact the operations of the Assembly. He emphasized that STMA, being the face of the region and the only metropolitan assembly in the region, has a responsibility to reflect the saying, “The best comes from the West.”

Hon. Nelson stated that there is a need for the Service to reconsider and change outdated practices that are no longer producing results. He encouraged staff to move away from the mentality of merely remaining in office regardless of political changes and instead remain committed to delivering quality services to the public, which he described as the core purpose of the Local Government Service. He urged staff to adopt a positive mindset towards the progress of the public sector.

He further noted that the flexibility within the Service should encourage officers to focus on development and adapt to innovative approaches that enhance service delivery while upholding the integrity of the Local Government Service.

The Minister also expressed concern about the sanitation situation in the metropolis, which he said does not reflect the positive image of the region. He therefore urged management to intensify efforts to address the sanitation challenges within the metropolis.

Additionally, he raised concerns about the indiscriminate siting of structures and stressed that it was time to strictly enforce the Assembly’s by-laws. He also called for sanctions against officers who compromise development standards by granting permits to unauthorized individuals.

Hon. Nelson emphasized that the Assemblies possess the necessary expertise to drive development and therefore reiterated the need for renewed commitment, effort, and energy to overcome challenges and make the Western Region cleaner. He cautioned that he would not want to witness a cholera outbreak, recalling similar incidents during his early years, and urged the Assembly to treat sanitation issues with the seriousness they deserve to ensure a healthy society in Takoradi.

The Acting Director of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC), Ms. Rachael Fosua Sarpong, indicated that in a bid to promote both personal and professional development, the Head of Service would soon undertake a large-scale posting of staff. She encouraged staff to embrace such postings as opportunities to enhance their capacity through cultural diversity, administrative exposure, and professional versatility.

She also emphasized the importance of professionalism in the workplace, particularly in terms of appropriate dressing and courteous service delivery to clients. She cautioned staff against engaging in extortion and encouraged them to maintain high ethical standards.

Furthermore, she suggested that the Metropolitan Coordinating Director (MCD) consider organizing quarterly clean-up exercises involving staff to help maintain cleanliness within the Assembly’s offices.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of STMA noted that although the metropolis serves as a hub of commerce, its rapid urban growth places significant pressure on infrastructure, roads, and social amenities required to support such development.

He therefore appealed to the Hon. Regional Minister to intervene with the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund to reconsider the Metro’s allocation, noting that the current funding is insufficient to meet the essential needs of the metropolis.
He concluded by thanking the Regional Minister for the productive engagement and assured him of the Assembly’s commitment to improving its performance.