Agotime Kpetoe V/R, Aug. 22, GNA - Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister on Monday inaugurated the Adaklu-Anyigbe District Assembly at a colourful ceremony at Kpetoe. The Assembly is the last of the 28 new assemblies created by the government to be inaugurated.

Twenty-seven of the assemblies were inaugurated in August last year, but that of Adaklu-Anyigbe was postponed due to controversy over the citing of the district capital.

Inaugurating the Assembly, Mr Dzamesi said a cardinal democratic assumption that power belongs to the people could hardly be achieved without the establishment of a truly decentralised system with which the central government wished to empower local government and communities to shape their future.

He pointed out that the rapid development of the country was not the responsibility of the government alone but more importantly the District Assembly and the communities as well. Mr Dzamesi said the increases in the number of district assemblies from 110 to 138 would accelerate the government's efforts at providing infrastructure, service delivery and equitable development, which form the basis of good governance.

He reminded the people that most of the communities the Assembly would serve were confronted with the lack of amenities such as potable water, sanitary conditions and other basic services and reminded the assembly members that it was the responsibilities of the local government to ensure that garbage was cleared to provide for a sanitary environment.

"I hope districts will remain focused on improving sanitation of their communities".

Mr Dzamesi drew the attention of the Assembly to the increasing disregard for proper planning of settlements; poor land administration and service delivery and implored the Assembly to take a critical look at land issues in the District.

He charged the Assembly to work in collaboration with the traditional authorities and appropriate decentralized agencies including the Town and Country Planning Department for sanity to prevail. Mr Dzamesi urged the Assembly to work hard to generate revenue to supplement government efforts.

He advised the Assembly members to learn to serve the people but not to lord it over them.

Mr David Kanyi, Adaklu-Anyigbe District Co-coordinating Director paid tribute to those who contributed towards the creation of the Assembly and called for support from all and sundry to develop the area. "Let us all put our shoulders on the wheel to push the development of the area. Let us do away with divisive tendencies and gear our efforts towards our developmental goal", he said.

Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive promised to assist the Assembly to solve its teething problems.

"You are now not part of the Ho Municipal Assembly. As an independent Assembly, try to use the resources allocated to you judiciously to benefit your people".

Nene Nuer Keteku the third, Paramount Chief of the Agotime Traditional area expressed his gratitude to the government for creating the District.

Madam Juliana Azuma Mensah, Member of Parliament for the Ho East, pledged her support and advised the people to do away with backbiting and other anti-social activities and help develop the area. All the ten assembly members present endorsed Mr Mawuli Kwami Dabi, 38, a Financial Analyst and the President's nominee as the new District Chief Executive.

The Assembly also elected Mr Francis Kwaku, an immediate past Presiding Member of the Ho District Assembly as Presiding Member. Ten of the fourteen Assembly members were present at the ceremony. Four elected Assembly members from the Adaklu Traditional area absented themselves apparently in protest against the citing of the district capital.

The chiefs and people of the Adaklu Traditional Area had been challenging the citing of the capital of the new district at Agortime-Kpetoe resulting in the setting up of a committee to thrash out the issue.

The committee chaired by Nana Ogyeabour Akompi Finam II, Omanhene of the Kadjebi Traditional Area in a report said the capital be maintained at Agortime-Kpetoe but suggested that the name of the district should be "changed to Adaklu-Agortime-Ziope District Assembly to reflect equal representation of the three traditional areas". Last Saturday chiefs and opinion leaders of the Adaklu Traditional Area called a meeting at which they restated their stand to opt out of the District if Agotime-Kpetoe remained the capital.