“Spread the offices in the two towns, Kukurantumi and New Tafo to foil misunderstanding and riot among the people”. This was the statement of the former eastern regional minister and an expert in local governance, Hon. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
According to him, Akyem Tafo has all the features to hold a municipal capital.
He continued by stating that one of the major features or criteria to consider before sighting a municipal Assembly office is the towns ability to generate enough revenue or resources, comparative to other neighboring towns.
According to him, Akyem Tafo contributes huge revenue and has important state installations such as District Police Headquarters, Hospital, viable market place, ECG district Office, Cocoa Research Institute, Banks among others.
“I don’t know the criteria that were used by the Local government ministry for selection Kukurantumi over Tafo as the district capital.
“The towns are interconnected and shear most important features”
“There is a tendency by members of parliament to influence the location which is not appropriate; I believe things should be done by law” He stated.
Hundreds of residents of Akyem Tafo in the Eastern region led by the Chief of Akyem Old Tafo, Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV as well as some thirteen (13) assembly members in the area hit the street in an effort to pressure government to site the new Municipal Assembly Office at Tafo instead of Kukurantumi.
The Local Government Minister Hajia Halima Mahama said the creation of the new municipalities and districts was to deepen the country’s democratic dispensation and the decentralisation system.
She said there were districts that had grown, with some of them doubling their population, since the start of the district assembly concept in 1988.
Daniel Koranteng Kwagyiri|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
