The forum, held at the Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mines Junior Staff club house, brought together institutions from different parts of the municipality.

The meeting, organized by the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Ministry of Information,  addressed issues on small scale mining, education, agriculture, infrastructure development and communication.

It was held under the theme: "Participatory governance, a key to sustainable development".

Mr Gilbert Kennedy Asmah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsueam, in his welcoming address, said the meeting was to inform all stakeholders on various government policies and interventions as well as showcase programmes from development partners at the local level.

He said all ongoing projects have been completed and efforts are being made to commence work on abandoned projects.

On achievements of government's flagship programmes, the MCE said on education, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has expanded the Ghana School feeding programme by 30 per cent.

In this regard, he said twenty seven public basic schools were benefiting in the municipality.

On Small Scale Mining, Mr Asmah said to ensure effective mining, hundreds of small and medium scale miners have been trained by the Inter Ministerial Committee against illegal mining and the University of Mines and Technology to enable them practice safe mining when the ban on small scale mining is lifted.

He said steps have been taken to revamp the underground mine by TASK mining limited under the ‘One District One Factory’ project.

The MCE said proposals are been developed and 10,000 Ghanaians are expected to gain employment.

On Agriculture, Mr Asmah said a total of 2,930 farmers were registered last year under the Planting for Food and Job's programme.

In addition, he said, maize, rice, cabbage, lettuce and cucumber seeds were yet to be given to farmers, while fertilizers would be distributed at a subsidized price.

He said the assembly was still registering interested farmers for the distribution of free cocoa, coconut and oil palm seedlings next year.

Touching on Infrastructure for Development, the MCE said under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) three mechanized borehole fitted with solar power have been drilled for residents of Benso, Mahamo and Ayinase.

He said some communities- Essamang, Agona Wassa and Bonsa No. 2, have been selected to benefit from places of convenient facility fitted with mechanized borehole.

In the area of Communication, the MCE said Tarkwa Benso, Bonsawire, Amantin and Badukrom communities to have challenges in gaining access to the telecommunication network.

He said the assembly has forwarded the names of the affected communities to the Ministry of Communication for extension of telephone coverage and was waiting for approval.

Mr George Meriku Duker, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsueam, said in the midst of the existing challenges, the government was doing its best to ensure that improvements are made in all sectors.