The Chief Executive of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Elijah Adansi-Bonah, was joined by the Member of Parliament for the Obuasi West constituency, Kwaku Kwarteng, to commission the Obuasi Artisan Center.

The project, popularly known as the Obuasi Magistrate, is expected to serve as an industrial cluster for mechanics and spare parts dealers in Obuasi and beyond.

It has a well-fitted water closet, toilet facility, and mechanized borehole. Electricity has also been extended to the site, which covers several acres of land.

Expected to create thousands of jobs, the Obuasi Artisan Center feeds into the local economic development plans of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, which are geared towards diversifying the economy of Obuasi and weaning it off its overdependence on the Obuasi Mine.

According to Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the plan to establish the Artisan Center and relocate all the mechanics and spare parts dealers in Obuasi had been in the books of the Assembly for a very long time; hence, he decided to pay attention to it by investing in it.

"The project started a long time ago, but I had to pay special attention to it by investing so much in it. We did this to make it conducive to accommodating the mechanics who will work here," the MCE said.

Throwing more light on the importance of the project, Adansi-Bonah said the Artisan Center will serve as a one-stop shop for vehicle repairs and servicing, as well as the sale of spare parts. This, he said, will also boost revenue generation for the Assembly through the collection of tolls and permits.

The Member of Parliament for the Obuasi West Constituency, Kwaku Kwarteng, who was upbeat about the prospects of the Artisan Center, said the project lends credence to the industrialization drive pursued by the government.

He admonished the mechanics to make the place vibrant to attract more people and investors while opening up the New Biakoyeden community to attract more infrastructural projects.

"We have decided to build a school here, and the road linking the center will see a major facelift. All these are the expected outcomes of having the artisan center here," Kwaku Kwarteng said.

On his part, the chairman of the Obuasi West Garages Association, James Opoku Apraku, commended the Obuasi Municipal Assembly for committing more resources to the project.

He said the site, with the amenities available, was enough to accommodate more of their members and other mechanics.