EXECUTIVES OF ANLO YOUTH COUNCIL PAYS COURTESY CALL ON HON. VOLTA REGIONAL MINISTER
The Executives of Anlo Youth Council led by its President Mr. Kenneth Kpedor has paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa on Friday, August 12, 2022 at the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council premises.
The call according to Mr. Kpedor was to introduce the Council to the Hon. Volta Regional Minister and the Regional Co-ordinating Council and for that matter and discuss how the Council could collaborate with the Hon. Regional Minister toward the development of the five Municipalities and Districts, namely; Keta Municipality, Ketu South Municipality, Ketu North Municipality, Akatsi South Municipality and Anloga District from which the Council derives its membership.
The Executives seized the opportunity to raise concerns about the need for the continuation of the Coastal Protection (Sea Defense Wall) Project at Keta, Anloga and Ketu South.
In addition, they stated the urgent need for the dredging of the Keta Lagoon in a manner to rejuvenate the ecosystem therein, and also promote eco-tourism.
On education, the Executives noted that the performance of schools in the catchment area keeps dwindling; and has become a source of concern to them. They, however, indicated that the Council through some partners has given some form of support to educational authorities in parts of the area to assist in addressing the concern.
Furthermore, they raised, with the Hon. Regional Minister, the need to have some of the deplorable roads in the Keta Municipality and Anloga District worked on.
On his part, the Hon. Regional Minister expressed joy about the call and indicated how important it was for him to receive the Executives of the Council as key stakeholders in the development of their catchment area. He discussed the issues and concerns raised by the Executives on the protection of the Coastline to ameliorate the ravaging effects of tidal waves and stated that Government was committed to the continuation of the Keta Sea Defense Wall Project. He indicated that there was the need for new feasibility studies considering the new dimension the tidal waves have assumed, and the expansion of the Sea Port of Togo at Lome. He intimated that the Sea Defense Wall Project would be continued in the Ketu South Municipality to end at the Ghana-Togo Main Border.
With regard to the dredging of the Keta Lagoon, Dr. Letsa stated that proposals from private investors have been received and forwarded to the appropriate authorities. He made it known that it is the duty of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure the dredging. That notwithstanding, he indicated that the Volta River Authority is in charge of dredging some sections of the Volta River and the Lagoon especially at the estuary
With respect to improving educational performance in the area, Dr. Letsa advised the Executives to liaise with the Municipal and District Assemblies, and the Municipal and District Education Directorates. He said the concerns of the Council in this regard are to be shared with local authorities charged with the development of the area.
He advised them to foster a strong collaboration and partnership with the Hon. Municipal and District Chief Executives and the Hon. Members of Parliament of the area in order to bring about more development. Specifically, he advised them to make inputs into the Medium Term Development Plans (MTDP) of the Assemblies.
The Regional Economic Planning Officer, Rev. Adza-Tettey who was present at the meeting corroborated all that the Hon. Regional Minister said. He emphasized that the Regional Co-ordinating Council has the main function of coordinating, evaluating and harmonizing the programmes and plans of the Assemblies. He therefore with the permission of the Hon. Regional Minister promised sharing the MTDP of the Assemblies in the area with the Executives for their inputs, and also inviting them to the Regional Harmonization of the Plans.
The Executives of the Council were grateful for the warm from the Hon. Regional Minister.