THE ASANTE Akim North District Assembly has presented 25 packets of roofing sheets and 50 bags of cement valued at ?18 million to two communities in the district.

The donation became necessary due to a recent rainstorm which ripped off the roofs of 27 houses and the assembly's constructed 12-unit market stalls at Wiawo.

The donations were also necessitated by the fire outbreak which destroyed some houses at Dawiaso village in the Afram Plains.

Mr. George Frimpong, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asante Akim, who made the donation at the respective communities last Friday, April 26, observed that several trees had been uprooted due to the rainstorm, which could have been more devastating but for the trees.

He advised the communities to seriously consider planting more trees to serve as wind breaks as well as giving the ecology a boost.

Frimpong called for an end to indiscriminate felling of trees by illegal chainsaw operators and asked the people to report their activities to the District Assembly.

He urged them to pay their property and basic rates since government derives its income from revenue generation which has helped to support them at this point of urgent need.

The DCE decried some negative tendencies such as evading the payment of property rates of only ?1,000 and explained that under the district assembly's bye-laws, that in itself constitutes an offence.

In an another development, the District Local Government Week was launched at Dwease-Praaso last week Wednesday, during which an open forum was held to discuss its inception.

Frimpong used the occasion to appeal to chiefs, people from all walks of life and stakeholders to offer their maximum contributions to increase grassroot participation because, according to him, democracy in the country will be solidified with full grassroot participation.