The Ashanti Regional Minister has charged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to work closely with the various security agencies to combat crimes in their areas.

Mr. Simon Osei Mensah said with resurgence of criminal activities in the neighbouring countries and the threat of terrorists activities in the West African sub-region, it would be of great importance for the MMDAs to support and work closely with security agencies to protect the people in their jurisdiction.

Mr Osei Mensah made the call at the meeting of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) in Kumasi.

The meeting was attended by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from the region, regional and district security heads, and other key stakeholders from the region.

The Regional Minister said as part of efforts to reduce criminal activities during the Christmas period, the RCC would distribute 400 street lights to the various municipal and district assemblies.

He commended the security agencies for working hard to maintain peace, order, and stability in the region.

Mr Osei Mensah pointed out that though the fight against illegal mining was still on in the region, the activities of the miners continued to pose a security threat in the region.

He said illegal mining activities were still rife in about 18 districts in the region and that was causing serious environmental health to the people in the affected communities.

The regional minister stressed the need for the chiefs in the region to actively take part in the fight against illegal mining in their communities.

He called for peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups in the communities to always ensure peace.

Mr Osei Mensah charged the MMDAs to step up efforts at revenue mobilization to raise the needed funds to support their development initiatives.

He also charged them to enforce their bye-laws by preventing people from building in water ways and other unauthorized places.

The Regional Minister said the upgrading of most feeder and urban roads in the region had been completed and more of them would be completed by next year, adding that the Bantama, Manhyia, Subin and Asokwa roads had all been rehabilitated.

He added that all inner roads would also be rehabilitated and dualized to ease traffic.

The Minister took the opportunity to remind the public that COVID-19 pandemic was still in the air and that the citizenry must vaccinate fully to prevent its spread.