Regional News of Monday, 14 June 2004

Source: GNA

Kwahu South spends over 12 billion cedis on development projects

Mpraeso (E/R), June 14, GNA - The Kwahu South District Assembly spent 12.4 billion cedis to finance a number of development projects last year.

The projects included urban roads and drains, a lorry park, blocks of classrooms, a library, a guesthouse, market stalls, a bridge and places of convenience.

Funding was from the District Assemblies' Common Fund, HIPC Initiative, GETFund, European Union Micro Projects, Quality Improvement Primary Schools (QUIPS) and the Assembly's internally generated funds. The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, announced this in an address to the First Ordinary Meeting of the District Assembly at Mpraeso on Thursday.

He said during the year, the Assembly mobilised 963.31 million cedis from its traditional revenue sources as against its target of 1.020 billion cedis, representing 96 per cent.

Mr Osafo Djan urged the members to assist revenue collectors to achieve this year's target of 2.5 billion cedis to finance more development projects.

To improve the security situation, the DCE said the Assembly was to construct police posts at Sempowa, Adawso, Bepong and Kotoso as well as rehabilitate the Nkawkaw Health Centre and appealed to the Inspector General of Police Nana Owusu Nsiah to increase the number of police personnel in the district to reduce the crime wave in the area.

He expressed concern about the low recovery rate of the 1.2 billion cedis Poverty Alleviation Fund disbursed to a number of individuals and groups and urged all beneficiaries to pay up for others to benefit. The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Lt. Col. (rtd.) Alex Owusu-Dwamena urged the Assembly members to co-operate and pass this year's budget and fee-fixing resolution to generate enough revenue for the Assembly.