Accra: Mr. Rudolf Collinwoode-Williams, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ayawaso Central Municipality, has urged inhabitants not to misuse the power of franchise as a weapon against development. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with ongoing development plans and environmental management efforts initiated by the assembly in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, in an interview following a recent national clean-up exercise to evaluate mitigation efforts, Mr. Collinwoode-Williams expressed concern over remarks from some developers and encroachers who threatened to vote against the government due to attempts to access their properties for flood mitigation. He called on citizens to support development initiatives, highlighting that they are major stakeholders and beneficiaries of such progress.
He stressed, "Let's free our heart for development to take place but if you do not, and the system descends on you, the question of human face should not arise." He further stated the importance of prioritizing lives over political votes, emphasizing that development should not be sacrificed for political gains.
Mr. Collinwoode-Williams urged the media to support efforts by local government authorities to address issues with errant developers and encroachers through bylaws, instead of focusing on the human aspect, which he said hinders development. He clarified that demolishing buildings is not an assembly's preference but a necessary action to prevent casualties and save lives.
He highlighted that the Assembly is committed to maintaining development order and mentioned that, unlike other jurisdictions, local authorities approve constructions in waterways to avoid casualties during flooding. The MCE acknowledged the challenges in managing sanitation due to the area's development pattern but assured that innovative methods are being used to tackle the issue.
Sanitation remains a priority for the Assembly, with tools and equipment provided to residents for communal clean-ups. Mr. Collinwoode-Williams announced plans for intermittent education to raise awareness about maintaining a clean environment. He noted that refuse from outside the area contributed to the recent flooding, urging residents near storm drains to change their waste disposal habits.
He warned against illegal dumping, which often occurs at night, endangering others' lives. Mr. Collinwoode-Williams also expressed gratitude to organizations like Lucozade, Latex Foam, Indomie, Goldrich, Let Love Lead, and individuals like Nana Kwame Bediako, for their support during the clean-up exercise. The Assembly welcomes further donations from benevolent organizations to aid affected residents.