Elmina, Aug.31, GNA - Each of the 52 members of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) district assembly, is to receive two million cedis as ex-gratia award for their four year term, following the dissolution of the assembly on Thursday.

One million cedis of the amount, was paid upfront, while the remaining one million cedis is to be paid between November and December. The decision to pay each member two million cedis was arrived at after a heated debate, as to whether to accept 1.5 or two million cedis, followed by a vote of hand, during which 23 of the 52 voted in favour of the larger sum.

Giving an overview of the assembly's performance in terms of revenue so far this year, Mr. George Frank Asmah, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said as at the end of June, it had only been able to realize 373,170,086.39 cedis, of the 1,016,230,000, cedis targeted for the year, representing only 37 percent.

He said, although this was discouraging, it is expected that the revenue generation will improve from July, when both farmers and fishermen have bumper seasons.

The DCE announced that the assembly had deposited 50 million cedis in each of the account of its sub-structures such as the urban, town, area and unit committees to enable them to operate effectively. On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Asmah said as at July 31, membership of the KEEA mutual health insurance scheme stood at 41,749, comprising 1,104 from the informal sector, 6,400 from the formal, 526 pensioners, 28,188 children, under 18 years, 4,721 aged, and 810 indigents, with 4,506 ID cards issued.

He stated that total premium collected amounted to 104,379,600 cedis and that the scheme had paid 69,147,095 cedis on drugs and treatment for 765 beneficiaries.

The DCE gave the assurance that efforts were being made to ensure that ID cards were issued to all those who have registered for the scheme and appealed to the former assembly members, to continue to "propagate the good news about the scheme". According to Mr Asmah, the assembly chalked a number of successes and performed creditably during the tenure of office of the out-going assembly members, and that debates on the floor of the house were positive, fruitful and constructive, devoid of rancour, vindictiveness and acrimony.

Mr Frank Appiah, the out-going presiding member, for his part, congratulated the members for their commitment and dedication, and for their cooperation. 31 Aug. 2006