Akyem Oda Aug. 14 GNA- The Birim Central Municipal Assembly has began an exercise to level up all refuse heaps in the bigger towns in the municipality to enhance sanitation.

The first phase of the exercise had been completed in towns like Akyem Oda, Akyem Asene, Akyem Manso, Akyem Asuoso and Atiankama Nkwanta, Ms Ophelia Koomson, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), announced this at a general assembly meeting at Akyem Oda on Friday,

The next phase would cover areas such as Akyem Oda Zongo, Asuoso and Akyem Akroso where refuse heaps posed a threat to the health of the people.

Ms. Koomson expressed worry about the inability of the assembly to meet its revenue target for two consecutive years from 2008 to 2009 and said weaknesses and irregularities in the system were largely responsible for that poor financial performance.

She indicated that the executive committee of the assembly had therefore agreed in principle to hive off the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) operations to a private revenue collection firm.

Ms. Koomson announced that the municipality had received 159,010 exercise books from the government, which had been distributed to schools in the area.

She said the municipality had also taken delivery of 2,000 Pre-cut school materials for distribution to basic schools in the municipality adding that the clothes which were being sewn locally would be ready for distribution soon.

The MCE announced efforts being made to temporarily rehabilitate the Akyem Oda Main Lorry Park to reduce the inconvenience and congestion being caused to travelers, transport operators, traders and especially, the assembly's revenue collectors.

"The Liberty transport terminal had been declared 'Accra station' and that vehicles belonging to both the Liberty Transport and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) that are bound for Accra would pick passengers at that place".

According to her, "This arrangement is expected to control the activities of floating Urvan buses and taxi cars".

On the lack of basic infrastructure such as lecture halls and residential accommodation for students of the Akyem Oda Community Health Nursing Training School, Ms. Koomson disclosed that the assembly and other sister assemblies in the Akyem traditional area had been tasked to gather resources to address the situation.

She thanked President John Evans Atta Mills for giving her the opportunity to serve in her people.