Agona-Nkwanta (W/R) March 31,- GNA - Mr.Kwesi Biney, District Chief Executive for Ahanta West, on Wednesday called on people in the area to sustain and strengthen the district's peaceful conduct of political affairs. Addressing the first session of the District Assembly at Agona-Nkwanta,

Mr. Biney said the district is noted for its peaceful conduct of political affairs and the people should not deviate from that "enviable record". He said the assembly would continue its modest but progressive move towards the development of the district in spite of the fact that the year is an election year.

Mr. Biney said the assembly would not, out of political expediency allow itself to be blackmailed into doing things that it has not programmed itself to do. He said it was embarrassing, particularly for him when after approving the programme of activities for the year by the Assembly, some members of the assembly come up with projects and programmes that were outside the budget. Mr. Biney said, "we cannot have orderly development of the district if we do not stick to what we set ourselves to do".

Mr. Biney said for the first time, the assembly exceeded its target for internally generated revenue, adding that, a total amount of 739,138,752 cedis realised as against a target of 621,193,500 cedis. He said budgeted expenditure went up by 25 per cent from 574,190,602 cedis to 722,652,800 cedis.

Mr. Biney asked the assembly to cut down on expenses so that money could be saved to support development projects. He said the assembly was not collecting the expected revenue from the markets and therefore, must initiate moves this year to privatise revenue collection at the markets to maximise returns to support development programmes. Mr. Biney said the assembly had begun listing private property in the district for the purpose of property rate collections, adding, "we hope to complete it this year so that we can begin the actual collection of the rates next year".