A grand durbar to climax the 10th anniversary celebration of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) was held here at the weekend on the theme,
“The new Ashaiman — 10 years of transformation”.
Attended by chiefs, government functionaries and well wishers from all walks of life, the celebration was enlivened by cultural performances signifying diversity of tribes resident in the municipality.
The chairman for the occasion and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashiaman, Alfred Agbesi, expressed joy at the strides the municipality had made, especially in crime fighting, adding that, the days when the area was noted for criminal activities was no longer the situation, and commended the police for their efforts, even in the face of limited resources.
He applauded all former Members of Parliament and Municipal Chief Executives for their various contributions towards bringing development in the area, and making it attractive particularly for businesses.
Mr Agbesi invited “all hands on deck” to ensure that the municipality achieved more progress in various ways to make Ashaiman an enviable community.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Albert Boakye Okyere, the first to be appointed MCE for the area, recalled the days when the assembly was part of Tema Metropolitan Assembly until it was carved out to become autonomous in 2008.
He commended all past MPs for their contributions in making the assembly independent and also praised past DCEs for holding the fort to enable him to come and continue with the developmental projects.
Mr Okyere said the creation of ASHMA had, to a large extent, helped in improving security, education, sanitation, infrastructure, healthcare delivery and several others, and pledged prioritse education and youth development.
He disclosed that, as part of activities for the anniversary, a youth centre would be constructed to support youth development in the municipality.
The MP for the Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, expressed regret that anytime criminal activities took place in other communities near Ashaiman, the impression was created as though the crimes were committed in the constituency.
He said such unfortunate comments continued to drag the name of the municipality in the mud, and therefore, advised such persons to desist from such acts and always get their facts right.
FROM DZIFA TETTEH, ASHAIMAN