Yendi, Sept. 8, GNA - The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Capt. Nkrabea Effah Dartey (Rtd) has called on Interim Management Committees (IMC) of the district assemblies to intensify their revenue collection to finance the development of their areas.

He said some of the District Assemblies relied on the District Assembly Common Fund for development, without making efforts to generate local revenue to augment the common fund for development. Capt. Effah-Dartey, who is also MP for Berekum, made the call when he met a 12-member Interim Management Committee at Yendi as part of his monitoring tour of District Assemblies.

He said there was the need for the Area Councils and Unit Committees to work effectively to initiate development projects in their areas.

Mr Effah Dartey discussed problems hampering the effectiveness of the IMC members. They also assessed the size of the Assemblies' membership to determine whether it should be downsized or the current levels should be maintained.

He expressed surprised about the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the Yendi area, saying, "when one is outside Yendi there is always rumours that one cannot visit the area because there is no peace."

The Yendi District Chief Executive Mr Mohammed Habib Tijani said the Yendi IMC was very effective and had been meeting once in every month and that apart from monthly meetings, members also met occasionally.

He said since the establishment of the IMC, members had held 30 meetings and that the Committee had been preaching peace in the Dagbon area.

He said the Yendi District Assembly IMC is made up of representatives from both Andani and Abudu Gates.

Mr Tijani said the membership of twelve for the Assembly's IMC was not enough and appealed to the authorities to increase the number by two more representatives from each area council.