La Dade-Kotopon initiates development projects

Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho Jul - 22 - 2014 , 12:48

After one year in office, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, Ms Rita Odoley Sowah, says her tenure has been exciting, eventful and challenging.

“If you do not have the heart and love for the job don’t go for it” was how she summed it all up.

According to her, the most challenging aspect of the work was how to satisfy the people. “There are some people who you will end up offending as you go about your work,” she said.

However, she said when one was able to win their (people) support and confidence, the fellow was bound to succeed.

Profile of assembly

Following the creation of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in the 1990s, the La area became part of Kpeshie, one of the only six sub-metros of the AMA then.

In 2003, by a legislative instrument, Kpeshie was divided into the La, Teshie, and Nungua sub-metros, all still a part of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

Then in 2007, the Teshie and Nungua sub-metros were joined to create the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly, leaving out the La Sub-Metro which transformed into the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly.

The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly was inaugurated in June 2012 under the Local Government Act 462.

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly has a population of 183,528 inhabitants.

It has ten electoral areas- Adiembra, Adobetor, Ako Adjei, Burma Camp, Cantonments, Labone, Lakoo, New Kaajaanor, New Lakpaanaa and New Mantease-Tse Addo.

The assembly has 15 members, comprising ten elected fellows and five government appointees.

Projects

In its attempt to stop pedestrians from walking on the streets and prevent them, (particularly schoolchildren), from getting knocked down, the assembly has constructed pedestrian walkways in places where residential and commercial structures have been built close to the streets.

The MCE admits that it was a tough project to undertake, considering that a number of buildings in the La Wireless area had to be brought down to make way for the project.

Today, Ms Sowah is relieved as the people have come to embrace the idea and have moved their structures for the walkways to be built.

The assembly is, in addition, constructing drains and rehabilitality some roads that are in bad conditions, including the Tse Addo road which lies behind the Ghana Trade Fair Centre.

Also, under her supervision, the MCE has spearheaded a programme to convert all public places of convenience into modern water closet facilities in various communities within the municipality.

According to her, even though the assembly was encouraging landlords to put up toilet facilities in their homes, it was also constructing modern public places of convenience for visitors who came to the municipality.

Educational projects

Focused on making education in public primary schools in La Dade-Kotopon more attractive, the MCE says she is soliciting support for the establishment of computer laboratories in all the schools in the area.

The assembly is also renovating all old school buildings and replacing dilapidated portions with modern ones to include facilities such as toilets.

Also, in collaboration with the EPP Bookshop, the assembly is distributing textbooks bearing past questions for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in public schools,” she said.

According to Ms Odoley Sowah, the 2013 BECE results of pupils in the municipality was not encouraging. Under the circumstances, she said in collaboration with the directorate of education in the municipality, mock examinations had been instituted to help identify challenges and offer solutions. As a step in improving school facilities, she said the assembly was in the process of changing all blackboards into whiteboards in public schools.

“In addition, the assembly has projected to fence all public schools to protect children and school lands from encroachers,” she said.

Health projects

“The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly is working to provide a CHPS compound for the Tse Addo community, which is a fast-growing one.

At the same time, a number of health personnel have been deployed into various communities within the municipality to educate mothers on ways of taking care of their young children and to also address some of the health challenges facing the people,” she said.

Recreational centres

According to the MCE, in the past, the La Dade-Kotopon area had recreational centres distributed in several locations, all of which was no longer in existence.

In view of this, she said the assembly was working at reconstructing the ‘Far See Gardens’, an amusement park, before the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival.

Markets

Markets in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality are for the most part undeveloped. The assembly is discussing the terms of an agreement for a public-private partnership deal to have the markets renovated and new ones built.