The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso West, Dr. Michael Mensah, has engaged staff and students of the University of Ghana in a community forum aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Municipal Assembly and the university community.
The engagement, held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the School of Performing Arts, brought together stakeholders, student leaders, and residents within the municipality.
The forum formed part of the Assembly’s efforts to bridge the gap between local government and constituents, while creating a platform for members of the university community to raise concerns and discuss challenges affecting the area.
Speaking to Univers News on the sidelines, Dr. Mensah described the initiative as a strategic step toward identifying community needs and finding practical solutions.
“Community engagement is one of our key performance indicators. It is important that we serve the community effectively, and that requires engaging with residents from time to time to understand the challenges they face and how best we can address them,” he stated.
During the forum, Dr. Mensah disclosed that the Assembly is lobbying the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to secure an E-block infrastructure project for the municipality.
The announcement followed concerns raised by participants over declining security, limited access to potable water, faulty street lights, and poor sanitation in some areas within the municipality. Community members also highlighted issues related to healthcare, transportation, youth unemployment, and access to education.
He noted that the municipality currently lacks a public secondary school, making the proposed E-block project a critical intervention.
“One of the challenges we have is that we do not have a secondary school within the municipality. I am therefore lobbying the GETFund Administrator for support,” he explained.
“We have made significant progress in our discussions, and he has assured us that the municipality will be considered for an E-block. He has asked us to provide details of where the facility should be sited, and we have done that. We are hopeful that it will come to fruition,” he added.
Addressing concerns about safety on campus and within surrounding communities, the MCE revealed that the Greater Accra Regional Minister has supplied street lights to the Assembly for installation in high-risk areas.
“I have received some street lights from the Regional Minister, and they will be installed in selected areas to improve visibility and enhance safety on campus and within the municipality,” he said.
He further assured participants that the welfare of residents remains a priority and indicated that such engagement forums will become a regular feature of the Assembly’s governance approach.
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Story by Wonder Mansah Agbengu and Holy Mavo | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
