The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Chief Director, Bless Kwame Darkey, has challenged the Pusiga District Assembly to exploit the district’s strategic border location to attract private investment and create jobs.
He said Pusiga’s position along Ghana’s eastern border offered significant opportunities in trade, hospitality, education, tourism and real estate, but urged the Assembly to deliberately create the infrastructure and conditions needed to attract investors.
Mr Darkey made the call during a familiarisation and working visit to the Pusiga District Assembly.
He said the Assembly must move beyond administering the district and actively identify investment opportunities that could transform the local economy.
“Strategically develop the markets in Pusiga. There is a big potential. What investment can we encourage so that we can have people get to invest in hotels, invest in market places, invest in educational centres for our youth?”
He urged the Assembly to prioritise the development of markets and other public facilities that could make the district more attractive to businesses and visitors.
According to him, investments in hotels, market infrastructure, educational facilities and tourism could position Pusiga as a destination for both people and businesses.
Mr Darkey also expressed concern over delays in implementing development projects despite funds being available to the Assembly.
He questioned why projects were not progressing when government had released funds for their execution.
“Government sends you money, millions of cedis, sitting in your account. And yet, nothing is moving. Why should that be the case?”
He urged management and staff to ensure that funds released for development were used for their intended purposes and that projects captured in the Assembly’s plans and budgets were implemented promptly.
He further stressed the need for staff to work collectively and put aside individual interests in pursuit of the district’s development agenda.
The Chief Director said the Assembly would also be required to account to residents for projects implemented and how public resources were used.
DCE tackles Monday, Friday absenteeism
The Pusiga District Chief Executive, Abdul Rahim Aguuri Haruna, meanwhile, raised concerns over staff attendance, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.
He said the Assembly was often sparsely occupied on those days, a situation he linked to security concerns that had previously emerged from the Bawku conflict.
However, with relative calm returning to Bawku, the DCE said the practice could no longer be justified.
He reminded staff that Monday was a normal working day and urged them to report to work and remain available to serve residents throughout the working week.
Mr Haruna said it was unacceptable for residents who travelled to the Assembly to access public services to arrive on a Monday and find staff unavailable.
He therefore directed staff to be at post and ensure that residents received the services they required.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
