Tarkwa, May 7, GNA - The Wassa West District Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Ayensu has said the District Assembly realised 16 billion cedis as revenue, out of 18 billion cedis, which was projected for the year 2004.

Mr Ayensu said that although revenue generation improved, there was the need to put in some challenging measures in order to achieve potential revenue targets and also expand revenue sources. The DCE said that the grants from the central government did not flow as expected, to enable projects implementation proceed as intended, however modest gains were achieved as reflected in some completed projects.

Some of the projects included the construction of a three-unit classroom block, an office, staff room and a library at Huni Valley, the purchase of motor grader for re-shaping of feeder roads in some of the communities, construction of area council office at Bogoso and the reconstruction of Aboso Market at Aboso.

Mr Ayensu said the assembly has projected 22 billion cedis for this year, which is 20 per cent more than that of the 2004 estimate. He said effective and efficient strategies would be adopted to achieve the projections set. Measures such as updating the existing inadequate data on ratepayers, improving revenue collection mechanism and sensitising ratepayers to honour their tax liabilities would be put before the assembly.

Mr Ayensu announced that the assembly has voted one hundred and thirty million cedis under the HIPC programme for the construction of seven hand-dug wells with pumps for some of the communities to ensure that they have access to potable water.

Touching on security, he said the situation is tense as armed robbers invaded one of the mining companies and stole 30,000 pieces of explosives and in the process wounded a police guard on duty. This, he said, would not augur well for the development of the district, whereas the ultimatum given to galamsey operators by the Regional Security Council (REDSEC) has also created an uneasy calm in Prestea.