Tema, Nov 4, GNA - Three sub-Metropolitan District Councils within the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) were jointly inaugurated on Wednesday with a call members to desist from hijacking the work of public and civil servants at the Assemblies. "They are full-time employees of government and must therefore be allowed to do their job," Nii Armah Ashitey, the Greater-Accra Regional Minister, who made the call at the function at the forecourt of the TMA, reminded the councillors.

The three sub-metros, Tema East, Tema West and Kpone with headquarters at Manhean, Sakumuno and Kpone respectively, have been carved out from TMA under powers conferred on the Assembly by the Legislative Instrument 1929 to establish and operate three sub-metro district councils. Nii Ashitey tasked the 90 elected and appointed members of the three sub-metros to promote and safeguard public health. He further charged them to ensure that public places or community right of space such as roads, streets, footpaths, pavements, lorry parks, school grounds, open spaces, cemeteries, playing fields and market places, among others, "are free from illegal encroachment." The Regional Minister reminded councillors that Section 55 of Act 462 "empowers district assemblies to remove without notice any unauthorized developments or encroachments that are carried out in the community right of space."

Nii Ashitey, therefore, urged them to carry out de-congestion exercises on regular basis, and to ensure that waterways were free from encroachment.

He warned them not to get involved in illegal activities, such as the issuing of unauthorized permits, be they temporary or permanent in nature, adding, "Desist from the temptation to give approval for unauthorized structures, especially kiosks and containers in your localities." "Let us remind ourselves that we must always be guided by rules, regulations and procedures in our dealings with the public in the performance of our duties."

Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said it was heart-warming that 21 months after the attainment of a metropolitan status in February last year, TMA was now inaugurating the three sub-metropolitan district councils. Mr Ofosuware urged the councillors to properly educate rate-payers on the need to pay rates and fees to help accelerate the development of the assemblies.

He urged them to co-operate with traditional authorities in the discharge of their duties, and see them as partners in development. The Regional Minister later administered the Oath of Secrecy to the councillors. Nii Adjei Kraku the Fourth, Tema Mantse, who chaired the function, asked the councillors to measure up to the task ahead of them. 04 Nov. 09