Yendi (N/R), Jan 8, GNA- The Yendi District Assembly improved its local revenue generation last year and collected 407.9 million cedis representing 82.3 percent out of the targeted 495.6 million cedis. Mr Mohammad Habib Tijani, the District Chief Executive said this at the last ordinary meeting of the Interim Management Committee of the Assembly at Yendi on Wednesday.

The Interim Management Committee was constituted to run the affairs of the Assembly because district level elections could not take place in the area last year due to the Dagbon crisis.

Mr Tijani attributed the improvement in the revenue collection to the engagement of more revenue collectors, the provision of motorcycles to facilitate their movement, as well as an efficient monitoring and supervision of the collectors.

The DCE said last year, the Assembly was allocated 4.639 billion cedis as part of its share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund, which was disbursed in accordance with the supplementary estimates covering the allocation.

He said the amount enabled the Assembly to undertake a number of projects including the construction of a one-unit 12-seater aqua privy toilet at Yoruba Fong at a cost of 115.8 million cedis, completion of a three classroom pavilion each at Kulkpenduli, Kpanjihi and Yashegu at a total cost of 65.6 million cedis.

Other projects included the construction of a one-unit store at the Yendi market at a cost of 307.6 million cedis, the rehabilitation of three low-cost houses at 72.3 million cedis, the construction of the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Police Post at Sang at a cost of 188.4 million cedis and 136.3 million cedis respectively.

Mr Tijani said the Assembly was undertaking 13 projects at a total cost of 1.6 billion cedis to be funded from the Common Fund, adding that during the year under review, the Assembly received 424.5 million cedis under the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF).

The money, he said, was disbursed to 661 men and women to undertake income-generating activities.

Mr Tijani said the Community Life Improvement Project, a Danish NGO, provided micro-credit facilities worth 92.2 million cedis to 168 women, while New Energy, another NGO, made available 62.5 million cedis as loan to 125 women.

He said the Assembly further disbursed 166.5 million cedis as financial support to teacher trainees, students of tertiary institutions and needy students. On the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Tijani said a consultancy firm, Integrated Development Centre, had been appointed to assist the Assembly to implement the scheme in the District. 8 Jan 04