TMA holds second ordinary meeting

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has held its Second Ordinary Meeting for the year during which the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Hon. Abdul-Rahman Hanan Gundadow called for a concerted effort by all to ensure increased revenue to enable the Assembly implement its development agenda.

According to Hon. Gundadow, the Assembly as at June had locally generated an amount of GH¢605,926.43 representing 53.6% of a projected amount of GH¢1,130,899.91 for the year, saying the prospects were good for the attainment of the set target.

The MCE, however, bemoaned the attitude of some rate payers such as VODAFONE, MTN, Airtel, Glo, Tigo, Expresso and the Volta River Authoriy- Ghana Grid Company (VRA-GRIDCO).

According to him, the telecom companies owed the Assembly an amount of GH¢119,560.00 in respect of Business Operating fees and over GH¢200,000.00 for property rate adding that ‘the Assembly will not allow the intransigence of these companies especially the Telecoms to undermine the development efforts of the Assembly’.

The VRA-NED and GRIDCO also owed the Assembly Gh¢20,560.00 and GH¢91,000.00 in respect of Business operating fees and property rate respectively. ‘I am particularly surprised about the attitude of the VRA-NED because the Assembly gives an average of GH¢8,200.00 a month to the VRA-NED in return for electricity supply and so why can’t they fulfill their side of the bargain?’ he asked.

The Executive Committee of the Assembly had earlier considered a number of issues recommended by the various sub-committees namely; the Development Planning sub-committee, Environment & Sanitation sub-committee, Finance & Administration sub-committee, Revenue Mobilization, Education sub-committee, Works sub-committee and Social Services sub-committee.

The Executive committee among others endorsed the Development sub-committee’s recommendation that as a matter of urgency funds should be made available to facilitate the smooth preparation of the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) of the Assembly for the period 2014-2017 and also endorsed the committee’s report that the Town & Country Planning Department should be given the needed resources especially with respect to the refurbishment of their office and the subsequent installation of the needed equipment.

The Environment & Sanitation sub-committee’s recommendation to the effect that the Waste Management Department of the Assembly should liaise with Zoomlion to re-locate the container at the Kukuo market was also endorsed by the Executive committee.

The Executive Committee further endorsed the recommendations of the Finance & Administration Committee’s report that the Assembly should endeavour to promptly pay commission collectors without delay.

The Education sub-committee’s recommendation that the 25 of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation to Brilliant but Needy Students should be stopped and the money used instead for monitoring and supervision in schools was however not endorsed by the Executive committee.