Five assembly members of the Shama District Assembly (SDA) have appeared before the Shama Magistrate’s Court for failing to pay back the revenue collected from franchise (toilet) services for the Assembly.

However, soon after the five were served with the summons letters, they rushed to pay a total of GH?580.00 to the Assembly, the prosecuting Environmental Officer of the Assembly, Mr Francis Tetteh Adettah, stated.

Their pleas were not taken.

Mr Adettah said the public toilets in the Shama District were being managed by assembly members who were mandated to pay monthly fees to the Assembly; but they had failed to do so since 2012.

As a result, Mr Adettah said from 2012 to 2015 the accrued toilet revenue was GH?9, 385.00, from a monthly fee of between GH?12.00 and GH?15.00, depending on the facility.

The Environmental Officer said more of the defaulters would soon be summoned before the Court to serve as deterrent to others.

A visit to the toilet facility attracts a fee of 20 pesewas, he explained.

The Presiding Magistrate, Erasmus Narh Addo, warned the assembly members to pay the rest of the revenue by next week Wednesday, or face a stiffer action.

Meanwhile, Mr Habib Mohammed, the Planning Officer of the Assembly, stated at a public forum, on Thursday, at Shama, that the revenue collection had been intensified in the District and all defaulters, including business institutions and traders, would be targeted.

Mr Mohammed said assembly members should be role models but these had breached the very law they should defend.

The Planning Officer said previously individuals were managing the toilets but they were later handed over to the assembly members because of reported malpractices, which must not be repeated.