Regional News of Monday, 25 December 2006

Source: GNA

Assembly members asked to desist from illegal chainsaw activities

Nyinahin (Ash), Dec 25, GNA=96 Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima-Mponua, has cautioned assembly members who are engaged in illegal chainsaw activities in the district to stop forthwith since his administration would disown such unscrupulous persons when caught.

He said the reduction in the district assembly share of the stool land revenue was as a result of illegal chainsaw activities, which should not be overlooked.

The DCE gave the caution when addressing the first official meeting of the assembly at Nyinahin.

Mr Owusu-Ansah reminded the members that the assembly concept was all about development and not party politics.

=93We would do a great harm to our people and betray the confidence they have reposed in us if we allow party politics to divide us=94, he said.

He advised them to make regular interactions with the electorate about the deliberations of the assembly the cornerstone of their programmes to avoid mistrust and lack of confidence. He said such interactions would enable the electorate to see themselves as part of the decision-making process and contribute their quota towards the overall development of the communities. Mr Owusu-Ansah appealed to the assembly members to map out effective strategies to mobilise enough revenue to meet the recurrent expenditure of the assembly.