Mr Wisdom Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in the Volta Region, has reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring equitable development across all communities within the municipality.
He dismissed claims that projects meant for Keta township had been diverted to other communities, including Abor.
Mr Seade said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a community engagement with residents of the Keta Central Electoral Area.
The engagement focused on discussions surrounding the proposed relocation of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Pharmacy Campus and the establishment of a 24-hour economy market in the municipality.
He assured residents that every community would benefit from development under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
“I have always made myself available to listen to my people because I pledged to serve them. I have listened to their plight; some have made several comments, but I am not angry. We need to grow the entire municipality together.
Mr Seade emphasised that he had no authority to divert development projects from designated beneficiary communities, stressing that his mandate was to ensure inclusive development.
He explained that the relocation of the UHAS Pharmacy Campus to Abor was necessitated by the lack of suitable land in Keta.
He noted that architectural plans prepared by previous administrations did not allocate any portion of the reclaimed land in Keta for the project, contrary to claims by some residents.
According to him, leaders in the Abor area voluntarily released more than 50 acres of land for the UHAS Pharmacy Campus and the proposed 24-hour economy market, making the location a viable alternative.
Mr Seade described the projects as part of the government’s broader agenda to decentralise higher education and improve healthcare training in the region.
He added that the 24-hour economy market would create employment opportunities, extend trading hours, and boost revenue for both traders and the Assembly.
“The said reclaimed land is occupied and we cannot forcefully take it from people who genuinely acquired it, we have to use the law, and that will take much time, waiting for it will delay works and deprive other communities from the such important developmental projects.”
The MCE appealed to residents of Keta Central, who were advocating for the projects to be sited in their area, to consider releasing suitable land to facilitate their implementation.
He stressed that land availability remained the most critical requirement for the commencement of the projects.
Mr Seade said the success of the initiatives would largely depend on the cooperation of residents and urged them to expedite efforts to make land available for development.
Some residents who spoke to the GNA welcomed the proposals, describing them as timely interventions that could transform the local economy and help reduce youth unemployment.
However, they called for transparency in land acquisition processes and adequate compensation for affected persons where necessary.
Community leaders noted that the projects could generate both direct and indirect employment in areas such as construction, trading, and services, and urged the Assembly to involve the youth in planning and implementation.
Market women also expressed optimism about the 24-hour economy market, saying it would allow them to expand their businesses and serve customers beyond regular trading hours.
They, however, appealed for adequate sanitation and security measures to be incorporated into the project’s design.
The Assembly has assured stakeholders of continuous engagement at every stage to promote inclusiveness and minimise potential conflicts, while promising regular updates as discussions with UHAS and other partners progress.
Meanwhile, some youth expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal and instead called for the renovation of the Keta Central Market and improvement of road infrastructure in the area.
