Children below 18 years have been barred from walking the streets of the Obuasi Municipality between the hours of 8pm and 5am, a new bye-law of the assembly has declared. The law, which has been approved and is due for gazetting, has directed parents in particular to ensure that children comply with the law or they would be held responsible. Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), John Alexander Ackon, who announced this at the 3rd Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly, said the new bye-law also forbids children who are less than 16 years of age from visiting entertainment and game centres during school hours. "Operators of such centres bear greater responsibility if they allow in children between the hours of 7am and 3pm when they are supposed to be in school," he warned. He explained that the bye-law, which is intended to keep children off the streets in order to improve their academic performance, is to deal with the issue of underage children patronizing night clubs and other undesirable areas. Mr. Ackon commended the assembly members for their support and understanding, adding, "I believe this assembly has been very peaceful and cohesive, devoid of sectional interests and qualms in our deliberations." The MCE also said the assembly members had been quite responsive to the needs of their electorates, hence the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the assembly and the various communities. Touching on the impending district level elections across the country, he pointed out that he was sad because some of the assembly members might decide not to seek re-election for various reasons. He indicated however that he is hopeful that a lot of them would come back to help him accomplish set objectives. "The assembly cannot afford to lose those of you who have acquired rich experience in the assembly through years of participation in its business," he said, admonishing those who would contest to do so fairly, devoid of insults and mudslinging. On development projects, Mr. Ackon said Obuasi has been a beneficiary of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations and Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme (AUPAP), from $115,000 would be invested in the areas of water, health and sanitation. The proposed projects, according to the MCE, include a clinic at Kunka Junction, boreholes at Aboagyekrom, Adaasi, Nyameso, Pomposo, Ayaase and Kunka New Town, while mechanized boreholes will be at Koffikrom, Sampsonkrom and Boss-man. "The issue of fully equipped ambulances has also been discussed and the training of two AGA fire-fighters in riverside is well advanced," he added. On the city renewal plans, he disclosed, that the old dilapidated structures marked for redevelopment were still on the drawing board for the investing public to acquire the sites for development that would uplift the city. Source: Daily Guide