Members of the Shama District Assembly have protested against a proposal from the Ministry of Fisheries that a private investor from outside the district should manage a cold store constructed by the government for the Shama area.

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SHAMA: Shama Assembly against outsider managing cold store

Members of the Shama District Assembly have protested against a proposal from the Ministry of Fisheries that a private investor from outside the district should manage a cold store constructed by the government for the Shama area.


Date Created : 4/20/2014 8:42:45 AM : Story Author : GhanaDistrict.Com

Members of the Shama District Assembly have protested against a proposal from the Ministry of Fisheries that a private investor from outside the district should manage a cold store constructed by the government for the Shama area.

Speaking in turns at the assemblys 11th ordinary meeting of the second session at Shama, the members preferred that the assembly manages the cold store, so that they would be directly involved in the terms of negotiation to ensure transparency.

This would also enable the members to have the chance to channel part of the proceeds into development to benefit the entire district.

The cold store was completed last year but has not been operating since.

They expressed the sentiment after the Chief Executive; Mr Enoch Kojo Appiah had told the house that the Minister of Fisheries had proposed that the cold store be managed by a strategic investor from outside the district, which according to them, was contrary to the initial proposal of appointing a competent member of the assembly to take up the task.

The assembly members explained that a resident investor would ensure that the community benefits from the operations of the project as well as create jobs for the youth as against an outside investor who might not have that agenda.

Mr Augustine Nyamekye, a government appointee told journalists that the rejection was based on past experience, where an investor from outside the district was made to manage a cold store constructed for the Abuesi community in the district that never benefitted them due to lack of transparency and poor management.

According to him there was no transparency in the terms of negotiation because it was arranged from the top and that made it difficult for the members to protest against it.

Mr Samuel Borlu, the presiding member, said the operations of the quarry companies disturb the community, as its operations had led to cracks in their buildings, coupled with the dust pollution of the environment and deafening noise making.

He said the assembly would meet the stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem to enable the people to have their peace.

Mr Borlu entreated the quarry companies to abide by the rules and regulations governing their operations, saying about 16 quarry companies operate in the district.

GNA