Agona Nkwanta (W/R) March 24,GNA- Mr Peter Amenu-Kpornyo, Ahanta West District Coordinating Director said on Wednesday that the Assembly collected 15.43 million cedis as revenue last year as against a target of 9.672 million cedis.

He said expenditure for the period stood at 733.7 million cedis while internally generated income was 958.8 million cedis. Mr Amenu-Kpornyo was speaking at an emergency session of the District Assembly at Agona Nkwanta, during which Mr Seyram Yao Tsatsu Azumah, the Judge at the Sekondi District Magistrate Court swore Mr Moses Ogoe, the new Presiding Member, into office.

He said the Assembly received grants worth 8.1 billion cedis from the HIPC Fund and the District Assembly Common Fund. Mr Amenu-Kpornyo expressed regret that the Assembly did not live up to its revenue expectations whilst most property owners defaulted in the payment of property rates.

He appealed to members of area, local and town councils to intensify public education on the payment of basic rates and other taxes. The Assembly unanimously voted for an upward adjustment of the sitting allowance from 40,000 cedis to 100,000 cedis while that of the sub-committees was increased from 40,000 to 60,000 cedis.

Mr Ogoe said there was the need for the assembly members to forge unity of purpose to improve on the revenue base of the Assembly. He appealed to members to contribute meaningfully to all debates in the House for the growth of the District.