Political Differences Weaken Democracy

The Mayor of Cape Coast, Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins, has called on Assembly members to set aside their political differences and focus on evolving measures to deepen governance at the grass roots level.

He stressed that it was time they worked together by sharing ideas and strategies, to strengthen the nation's weak social infrastructure and deepen democracy at the local level.
Mr Aikins, who made the call in an address on the state of the metropolis, at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly's sitting, called on all to eschew negative tendencies that undermined the efforts at developing the metropolis, which include blackmailing others.
He said people should also desist from backbiting others and stressed that apathy, poor attitude to work and the lack of commitment, as well as bootlicking, were retarding the nation's growth, adding that weak institutional arrangements had given way to a lot of waste in the system.
He called for a complete overhaul of the metropolis, which he described as sick' and called on the people to wake up and face the truth, instead of living in its past glories.

The Mayor said there was no need to rush the development process but to appreciate the problems, be circumspect and strategise for effective results, adding that, it was better to do the right thing once and for all, particularly in their quest to build a solid foundation to transform the Metropolis.
He mentioned some of the challenges facing the metropolis to include the lack of physical infrastructure, youth unemployment, as well as poverty, and expressed concern about the unskilled youth in the area, who are rather, being selective as to the type of job they want to engage in.
Mr Aikins said the Assembly would not tolerate or condone any wrongdoing in the Metropolis, and that those who fall foul of the bye-laws will either be prosecuted or dealt with, adding that, it will not politicize its development agenda and processes.
The Presiding Member, Nana Kweku Awuku, said the Assembly had chalked up major successes in infrastructural development, particularly in the area of education and stressed that there was still more room for improvement.