Akropong (E/R), Dec 1, GNA - The Akuapem North District Assembly collected 70 per cent of the expected 1.2 billion cedis revenue for the year as at the end of October, 2006.

The Akuapem North District Chief Executive, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the assembly on Thursday.

He said the assembly had not fully exploited the revenue generating potentials of the district and had continuously over relied on the District Assembly Common Fund, the HIPC and the GETfund from government and the development partners of the country. Mr Aboagye said the assembly had organized a capacity building programmes for Town and Area Council members in the district to enhance their role in mobilizing financial, human and material resources for development.

He said the district has a lot of attractive tourist sites that needed to be developed to attract visitors and investors and the assembly aims at promoting community-based tourism to generate employment and income.

Mr Aboagye said as a result of the introduction of the capitation grant, the district recorded an increase of 33.6 per cent in school enrolment this year.

He said the district is confronted with heaps of refuse, lack of solid and liquid waste disposal sites as such the district had decided to acquire and develop permanent solid and waste disposal sites. The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr Samuel Appenteng, called on the members of the assembly to work hand-in-hand with those who contested with them in their electoral areas and lost. Mr Appenteng called on the members of the assembly to co-operate with him to ensure that all deliberations of the assembly were devoid of partisan politics.