Akwapim South Assembly to increase revenue

The Akwapim South District Assembly plans to generate 929.6 million cedis this year from its traditional sources and this represents 20.5 per cent of the projected revenue of 4.5 billion cedis.

Mr Andrew Yaw Nyarko-Adu, the District Chief Executive (DCE) who was addressing the first session of the assembly, said the remaining amount would be expected from external sources such as the Common Fund.

"The estimated revenue to be generated from internal sources is 100 per cent over last years revenue".

Mr Nyarko-Adu said the increase was due to increase in basic rates and widening of the tax net.

He appealed to the 50-member assembly to endeavour to be part of the revenue mobilisation campaign to enhance the financial strength of the assembly.

On Poverty Alleviation Fund, the DCE said out of 316.8 million cedis of the fund, individuals and groups owed 521.5 million has so far been recovered by the district assembly.

Mr Nyarko-Adu said the issue of finance was one of the basic concerns of every district assembly in the country, saying without financial resources, no assembly could achieve its primary objectives of providing the basic socio-economic needs of its people.

He said last year, the assembly spent 35.4 million cedis to assist 110 teacher-trainees who have chosen the Akwapim South District to begin their teaching career on completion of their courses, while it has also spent 9.2 million cedis to sponsor the first district sciences, technology and mathematics education (STME) clinic for 50 girls in the district.

Mr Nyarko-Adu said 24 boreholes and 8 hand-dug wells were being constructed in 27 communities in the district.

He expressed the assembly's appreciation to the government for asphalting the Nsawam-Adoagyiri portion of the Accra-Kumasi truck road, including the bridge spanning the Densu River, adding that "these two projects have no doubt helped to ease the traffic jam, that was usually associated with Nsawam and Adoagyiri".

The Presiding Member, Nana Akua Okyerewa, said the assembly members had challenging responsibilities and called for peace and unity to ensure constructive contributions at meetings to enable the assembly to discharge its commitment diligently.