The Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South Municipality, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi has expressed worry over the theft of fixed metal gratings used to cover gutters and drains in the central business district.

He said the Assembly has noticed with disdain that the metal gratings were being removed at night by some unscrupulous persons and sold to scrap dealers.

“The situation was unfortunate, especially when the Assembly is trying to ensure the safety of the citizenry by covering the drains to prevent people from falling into it, and some unscrupulous people are stealing them to rather make money for themselves. This is thwarting our efforts to ensure the safety of the citizenry and we call on persons engaged in such acts to desist from it,” he said.

Mr Appaw-Gyasi made this known at a town hall meeting organised in Koforidua by the Assembly in collaboration with Star Ghana Foundation and funded by the Botnor Foundation on Friday.

The meeting organised under the theme: “Promoting Civic Engagement” was organised under the “Our City Project” which was aimed at creating an accountability platform to enable discussions that concerned youth participation in local governance at the assembly level and allow the youth to interact with relevant stakeholders on accountability issues.

It was also aimed at enabling relevant stakeholders to critically reflect on appropriate measures to improve accountability to the youth.

Mr Appaw-Gyasi revealed that the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) had taken keen notice of the unfortunate incident and was on a manhunt for such persons.

“The assembly would not hesitate to deal with culprits when caught to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.

He called on community members in the municipality to ensure to help to stop the menace by cooperating with MUSEC and report to them of such persons who they see involved in such act.

The MCE revealed that the assembly was engaged in several projects such construction of roads, redevelopment of Jackson Park, and reconstruction of the Nsukwao drainage system among others.

He said the infrastructural development would give Koforidua a beautiful face-lift and enhance the economy of the area.

Mr Appaw-Gyasi further added that the town hall meeting was being organised as part of a partnership project between the assembly and the youth to encourage youth participation and ensure accountability as well as enhance service delivery.

He noted that the youth has a lot to offer and encouraged them to make their inputs known through such meetings and their assembly members “so that together, we develop this municipality and Ghana as a whole.”

The Assembly Member for Two Streams Electoral Area, Citizen Francis Tetteh during a meeting called on the assembly and stakeholders to ensure that youth who were trained in agribusiness, would be provided with the necessary funding and equipment to start their jobs.

Mr Appaw-Gyasi said this would help reduce unemployment in the municipality and enable the youth to start their jobs and employ other youths.

He said when adequate jobs were provided, it would help to reduce social vices including theft in the municipality.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua