The Effutu Municipal Assembly has stepped up efforts to strengthen ties with local business operators following a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Traders and Artisans Network at the Artisans Village in Winneba.
The meeting, spearheaded by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah, formed part of a broader municipal strategy aimed at promoting inclusive local economic growth and addressing long-standing infrastructural bottlenecks confronting small-scale enterprises.
In a candid address during the forum, Chairman of the Artisans Network, Mr. Ebo Nunoo, welcomed the delegation and described the visit as a demonstration of “responsive and people-centered leadership.”
However, he did not mince words in outlining the pressing challenges facing artisans at the site.
Foremost among the concerns was the absence of electricity and reliable water supply, deficiencies that artisans say have severely constrained their productivity and limited business expansion.
“Access to power and water is not a luxury; it is fundamental to our work,” Mr. Nunoo stressed, noting that auto-electricians, welders, general mechanics, and other skilled workers depend heavily on these utilities to meet production demands.
He appealed to the Assembly to expedite interventions that would allow artisans to operate efficiently and competitively within the municipality’s growing local economy.
The artisans also raised alarm over alleged encroachment on portions of land earmarked for the Village. According to Mr. Nunoo, unauthorized construction activities by private individuals are gradually shrinking the operational space designated for members.
The development, he warned, threatens structured expansion plans and equitable allocation of workspaces.
“We are pleading for immediate intervention to safeguard the land so that every registered artisan can have a properly designated area to operate,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah assured the artisans that the Assembly had already initiated steps to address the utilities challenge.
He disclosed that arrangements were underway to provide electricity to the Village within two weeks, a timeline previously communicated by the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Majeed Ayeriga, working alongside the Physical Planning Officer, Mr. Issac Adoa, and Municipal Engineers.
On the issue of encroachment, the MCE directed the Physical Planning Department to ensure that all unauthorized developments cease immediately, reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to protecting public lands.
“The Assembly will take all necessary measures to secure the land and ensure that every artisan receives their rightful working space,” he stated
Beyond infrastructure concerns, the engagement also highlighted the Assembly’s broader socio-economic agenda. The MCE appealed to artisans to contribute to youth empowerment efforts by offering free skills training to at least two young people from the municipality.
He emphasized that structured apprenticeship support would help tackle unemployment, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen community resilience.
“This partnership between the Assembly and artisans can become a model for grassroots economic transformation,” he noted.
In a practical demonstration of commitment, the MCE and the Physical Planning Officer initiated the demarcation of access roads within the Artisans Village during the visit. The move is expected to enhance accessibility, improve spatial organization, and pave the way for more structured development at the site.
The meeting concluded on a collaborative note, with both the Assembly and the Traders and Artisans Network pledging continued dialogue and joint action to transform the Artisans Village into a fully serviced and economically vibrant hub.
Observers say the engagement marks a significant step toward strengthening public-private cooperation at the local level, a critical ingredient in advancing sustainable municipal development in Ghana’s Central Region.
Story By: Charles Baah Aboagye & Paa Kwesi Budu Mensah
Picture Credit: Emmanuel Agosu
ISD- Effutu Municipal Assembly
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