Takoradi, Jan. 7 GNA- Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive, has called on the business community in the area to support the assembly to create congenial atmosphere for business.

He said this at a Breakfast Meeting organised by the assembly for the business community in Takoradi as part of its centenary celebrations.

Mr Nkrumah said the assembly could not do much to improve the business environment if the businessmen and companies failed to pay their taxes.

He said the focus of the assembly is to promote business and had set up a business desk to offer assistance to investors. Mr Nkrumah said some people have lost confidence in the district assemblies' concept because the performances of the assemblies are below expectation.

''The truth of the matter is that the assemblies require revenue to operate and revenue is not being generated as expected because of the reluctance of people to pay their taxes'', he said.

Mr Nkrumah said the assemblies' main responsibility in the past was regulation of sanitation but now it has additional tasks that require revenue to accomplish.

He said the Metropolitan Assembly is doing its best to internally generate revenue to meet its commitments because of the frequent delay in the payment of the Common Fund.

Mr Nkrumah said the Free Zone Board has awarded the contract for the development of the Sekondi Free Zone.

Mr Nkrumah said the company executing the contract has been given 18 months to develop the area and is mobilising resources to commence work.