SEKONDI NEEDS DEVELOPMENT (Page 20)

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi

SEKONDI was the Western Regional Capital when the region was created out of the Central Region, to become a separate entity in July, 1960.
Until the time that Takoradi was added to it to create a twin-city, Sekondi was and it is still the seat of the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, and the location of the regional minister’s residence.
All the ministries, some departments, agencies, the Regional Police Command and the Western Naval Base are located in Sekondi.
But what do we see in terms of development and economic activities? While Takoradi is developing very fast, Sekondi is lagging behind.
So it is not far from wrong if people call for a complete facelift for Sekondi. Sekondi  actually needs a facelift to befit its status as a city or twin-city as well as a regional capital.
Almost all the roads in Takoradi have been reconstructed and tarred, yet only some roads in Sekondi have been improved.
While some old buildings in Takoradi have given way to the construction of big stores and supermarkets, Sekondi is still living on its past glory, as old buildings abound without any renovation.
Touching on commercial activities, business is very brisk in Takoradi while Sekondi seems to be calm in that regard.
While Takoradi can now boast of about 10 commercial banks, Sekondi can boast of only two or three of such banks. Recently, Takoradi has witnessed the opening of more banks, with none for Sekondi, since business there is not flourishing.
Takoradi and its environs have many educational institutions such as senior high schools (SHS) while Sekondi has only about two.
In terms of sanitation, Takoradi appears to be cleaner than Sekondi. This is because while  beaches in Takoradi look clean, some people in Sekondi still defecate indiscriminately, making the beaches unhygienic and stinking.
 The Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) announced three years ago that efforts were being made by the assembly and the government to restore Sekondi to its former status as one of the vibrant commercial centres in the country.
According to the assembly, there were plans to expand and renovate the Sekondi Market to attract floating traders at the Takoradi Central Market (Market Circle), and also reconstruct the roads, especially the Essupon-Sekondi road.
The project also includes the construction of an overhead bridge on the main Adiembra-Sekondi road to enhance movement of people and goods to and from the town and boost commercial activities in the metropolis.
Certain parts of Sekondi were also to be turned into tourist attractions, particularly the European Town, which has buildings depicting ancient European architecture. Many of the buildings are to be rehabilitated for that purpose.
The Ghana Tourist Board and SAEMA, in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy, are also expected to rehabilitate Fort Orange, a Dutch Fort in Sekondi.
Other sites to be developed are the “Komfo Asi”, where the statute of a fetish priest and the roundabout where a giant fish formerly stood, while the local railway station is to be turned into a museum.
Although the construction of the Essupon-Sekondi road and the overhead bridge have been completed, others are yet to be done. These include the expansion and renovation of the Sekondi Market and the development of parts of Sekondi into tourist attractions.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, said the assembly had identified those key infrastructure as a contributory factor to the decline of Sekondi.
He said another bridge would be constructed over the Essei Lagoon, and that a contract had been awarded, but work had been suspended and would start after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Touching on the expansion and renovation of the Sekondi Market, Mr Nkrumah said the government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, had initiated a project to develop a market complex each in all the regional capitals and some selected districts in the country.
He said through the Member of Parliament for the Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah, the Sekondi Market was to benefit from the project.
According to Mr Nkrumah, the consultants had inspected the market and requested for the site plan as well as other relevant information, which the assembly had provided.
“They are working on the designs and hopefully the project will start in the course of the year,” he said.
Concerning the development of European Town, a suburb of Sekondi into tourist attraction, Mr Nkrumah explained that the assembly was working in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board to develop the area for that purpose as a result of the unique European architecture, such as those of the Portuguese, Dutch, German and the British.
“We have identified bad road network in the area and have tasked the Department of Urban Roads to improve on the roads,” he explained.
“What we are going to do this year is to restore the old buildings in the area,” the MCE stated, adding, “we are initiating this programme with the owners of the buildings.”
According to Mr Nkrumah, tourist information centres would be established at the European Town and some of the buildings in the area would be turned into museums.
He said Fort Orange was currently being managed by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and that management of the authority was willing to support the project.
“The first Supreme Court building at European Town as well as the old Town Council building are all structures to be renovated,” the MCE stated.
He said “Komfo Asi” and the giant fish statute roundabout formed part of the beautification programme of the SAEMA, adding that the giant fish roundabout would be provided with a fountain as well as streetlights.