Assemblies urged to be vigilant over lands

Tema (Greater Accra), 28 Jan. '99 - Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Greater Accra Regional Minister, has called on district assemblies to be extra vigilant against encroachment on lands in their areas. He commended the assemblies for demolishing projects on encroached lands, but stressed that vigilance on their part would prevent such acts. Speaking at the opening of the second ordinary meeting of the Tema municipal assembly, Mr Agyekum admitted that it is dehumanising to demolish a building at any level and advised would-be developers to acquire and develop land legally. "I am urging you (district assemblies) to maintain an eagle eye on all the lands in your areas so all nefarious activities can be checked and the right sanctions applied at the right time". He warned that no building would be allowed to be constructed in areas demarcated for roads or other public use and asked the assemblies to use monies collected or received from the central Government judiciously. Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema municipal chief executive said the assembly hoped to raise a total revenue of 10.5 billion cedis, this year against a total expenditure of 10.506 billion cedis adding that more than half of its total revenue every year is committed to development projects in education, health, water, markets, lorry parks and housing, among others.