Hon Nana Yaw Wiredu, NALAG Member and Presiding Member for Asokwa Municipal Assembly
Hon. Nana Yaw Wiredu, the Presiding Member (PM) of the Asokwa Municipal Assembly and a key member of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), has strongly urged all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to place the security and social welfare of their communities at the forefront of their agendas.
Speaking to this reporter over the weekend, Hon. Wiredu emphasized that numerous localities are still grappling with persistent issues of robbery and general insecurity.
He specifically highlighted the concerning lack of basic infrastructure, noting that many communities, including parts of Asokwa, struggle with inadequate access to street lighting.
“It is deeply troubling to realize that many communities, including sections of Asokwa and others across Ghana, are facing lighting challenges,” the NALAG Member stated.
He added, “I firmly believe that if MMDAs commit to resolving this, we can significantly prevent the constant incidents of insecurity and robberies, thereby making our streets safe for all citizens.”
Addressing Social Exploitation:
On the issue of social welfare, Hon. Wiredu expressed concern that various service providers are taking advantage of the public, particularly noting the exploitation within the transport sector.
He pointed out that during critical periods, transport owners and drivers often treat passengers unfairly.
He described a pattern of exploitation where some drivers charge passengers double the standard fare for the same route, while others pick up and drop off passengers mid-route only to pick up new travelers and charge them a separate, additional fare to continue the journey.
“It is unfortunate that drivers are currently exploiting passengers by charging double the approved fares for the same routes, and this predatory practice must be halted,” Hon. Wiredu asserted.
Policy Proposals
To address these pressing issues, the NALAG Member put forward several proposals for the government and MMDAs:
Increased Community Policing:
He proposed that the government should ensure the employment of a greater number of community police personnel.
Funding for Community Watchdogs:
He suggested allocating a specific fee within the property rate collected by MMDAs.
This dedicated fund, often termed Internally Generated Funds, would be used to finance and manage community watchdogs and support MMDAs in deploying staff to patrol various towns and communities nationwide.
Task Force Deployment:
Hon. Wiredu also called on MMDAs to deploy a dedicated task force empowered to apprehend and penalize irresponsible drivers who exploit and cheat members of the public using local transportation services.
“I will sincerely entreat the government to increase the intake of personnel into the various security agencies, especially the Police Service, so they can ensure a secured and safe environment for all citizens,” the NALAG Member concluded.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
