The Ministry for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, yesterday handed over equipment including tools to management of the Department of Parks and Gardens.
The equipment included a tipper truck, two KIA trucks fitted with water and water pumping machine, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle, 4×4 Nissan single cabin pickup and 14 motorcycles.
The rest included three desktop computers, two laptop computers, nine mowing machines, three drive mowers, 24 chain saw machines, 24 grass cutters, four poly water tanks and 11 aluminum ladders.
The Deputy Minister, Mr Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah, who presented the items on behalf of the sector Minister in Accra said the tools and equipment were to augment the existing fleets of equipment to facilitate the revitsalisation of the department.
He said the core mandate of the department was to maintain all the road medians in the country.
Mr Mensah Korsah noted that, the maintenance of the road median did not only provide beautification in the cities and towns, but also prevent erosion.
According to him, considering the role of the department towards the beautification and maintenance of the roads, it was important that the general public cooperates well with the department.
“It is only through this public support that the department can perform its functions effectively,” he added.
The Minister stated that the ministry was aware of the challenges facing the department and assured that it would receive the needed attention.
He, therefore, urged the department to ensure that the equipment were fairly distributed to its offices across the country to enable the regional and district offices to witness a revitalised parks and gardens.
He also entreated them to put the items to good use so that it would yield the needed results, adding “it is through performance increase that we can continue to replicate and sustain these initiatives.”
The Acting Director of the Department of Parks and Gardens, Mr Charles NiiAyiteyOkine, expressed appreciation to the government stating that the items would go a long way to augment the operations of the Department.
He promised to make good use of the equipment and distribute it as expected.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
