The Akatsi North District Assembly has cut the sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art shopping center that would not only improve economic activities in the area, but also give Ave-Dakpa a befitting status as the District capital.
The project, which has already started by Unimensil Ltd, with Procurement and Project Management Consultancy as Consultants, would be completed within 18 months. They include the construction of a 2-storey building, 40 rooms as shopping Center, the construction of standard market sheds, warehouse, urinal, toilet, a lorry park and a revenue office.
Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony at Ave-Dakpa, the District Chief Executive for the Area, Mr. James Gunu, explained that there would be enough security at the new market and that electricity would be extended to the place to ensure incident free day and night market.
Mr. Gunu said at a series of meetings the Assembly held with stakeholders, particularly market queens showed that the project was one of the priorities of the people and urged the residents of Ave-Dakpa to support the contractor in order to ensure the early completion of the project. According to the DCE, the project was awarded on contract in March 2014, but the sod-cutting for work to start was delayed because of the inability of the contractor to have access to the site, as a result of the refusal of some people who had erected structures on the land.
Mr. Gunu pointed out that the Assembly was doing everything possible to ensure rapid transformation of the District by implementing pragmatic projects and activities that would improve the living condition of the people, noting that what was important was for the people to support him (DCE) and the Assembly. The young and determined DCE made it clear that he and the staff of the Assembly were working hard to ensure that the numerous development programmes being implemented reflected positively in the lives of the people.
According to him, the District has been selected to benefit from a $200,000 Ghana Social Initiative Support for roads and reforestation and urged the people to have confidence in the leadership of the Assembly as better days were ahead. Mr. Gunu noted that when completed, the project would serve as a socio-economic hub for the people of the Akatsi North District and its catchment areas.
A Member of the Council of State, Togbui Binah Lawuluvi, who cut the sod for work to begin, commended the Akatsi North District Assembly for the effort being made to promote socio-economic activities in the area, which he noted would definitely help improve upon the living standards of the people. Togbui Binah Lawulivi noted that development comes with initial pain but the benefit thereafter remains immeasurable. He reminded the people that development also goes with some level of responsibility which includes the payment of tax regularly.
He argued that the Common Fund was not enough to carry out all desirable development activities hence they should prepare for the task ahead of them. The Council of State Member pointed out that one major problem Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are facing is the irregular payment of property rates, saying once the understanding was there among the people to unite and support the Assembly in its development activities, conscious efforts be made to pay their property rates to enable the Assembly to generate more funds internally.
The Assembly Member for Ave-Dakpa and the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. Patrick Ahiabu, remarked that the Ave-Dakpa market, which was established in 1942, did not see any major renovation. This, he noted, has resulted in the newly established markets in other parts of southern Volta to function more effectively than it. He, therefore, called on the people to regard the rebuilding of the market as one of the achievements of the government, aimed at improving their standard of living.
Mr. Ahiabu also asked the people in the District to live in peace with one another at all times, stressing that acts of lawlessness such as fighting would be a thing of the past because a District Court would soon be provided at Ave-Dakpa.With the establishment of the court, people found culpable of crime would be dealt with according to law.
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