Deputy Lands Minister inaugurates local committee to oversee Appiatse redevelopment

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Yussif Sulemana, on Tuesday, inaugurated a Local Implementation Committee to oversee and support the redevelopment of Appiatse in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality.

The ceremony, held at the Assembly Hall of the Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Assembly, brought together key stakeholders, including traditional authorities, government officials, community leaders and residents of the area.

In his inaugural address, Mr Yussif Sulemana said the gathering was not only to inaugurate the new committee but also to account for the work of the previous committee responsible for Phases One and Two.

According to him, the previous committee had secured land for Phase Three, initiated the compulsory acquisition process, and revised the local plan for Appiatse by integrating plans for the first two phases.

He added that the procurement process to secure contractors and consultants for Phase Three had also begun.

The Deputy Minister stressed that community involvement was critical to ensuring transparency, ownership and effective implementation.

He outlined the new committee’s key functions as: ensuring inclusive participation of affected persons in decision-making, supporting transparent communication between the community and stakeholders, and providing oversight for redevelopment and social performance activities.

The committee is made up of representatives from the general assembly, traditional authorities, community members, clergy, NADMO, the Police Commander, Head of Social Welfare, and a representative of the MP. Members were presented with their instruments of appointment.

As part of the programme, a revised plan for the Phase Three redevelopment was presented to residents to give them an overview of the proposed development and highlight changes compared to previous phases.

Welcoming the delegation, the MCE, Mr Matthew Kofi Ayeh, commended the Deputy Minister for his commitment and tenacity towards the redevelopment of the community, which was devastated by an explosion in 2022.

The MP for the area, Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, urged residents to seek clarification from the committee and other relevant authorities instead of spreading misinformation about the project.

He called for cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of Phase Three, especially to enable persons who were yet to benefit from Phases One and Two to be captured.

“The doors of the committee members, traditional authorities and other relevant stakeholders remain open to residents seeking clarification on issues concerning the project,” he said.

Nana Akesse, Chief of Appiatse, also commended government for its efforts and appealed to residents to contribute their support and expertise to ensure the successful commencement and completion of the redevelopment.

The inauguration is expected to give the Appiatse redevelopment project a stronger local voice and participatory direction, while strengthening collaboration and promoting transparency for the benefit of affected residents and the wider Appiatse community.

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