Kyebi (E/R), Oct. 1, GNA - Beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) in the East Akim District of the Eastern Region had failed to pay back a total of 300 million cedis of the loans they collected.

Due to the problems of repayment by the beneficiaries, the Assemblies are finding it very difficult to administer the fund. The East Akim District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene, made the observation in his address to the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly at Kyebi on Friday.

He said in view of the difficulties the Assembly was having with the management of the fund, it had been proposed to the PAF Management Board to allow the Assembly to channel part of the fund into better result-oriented activities, such as the rehabilitation of the New Tafo Market.

According to him, some of the sheds at the market had deteriorated to the extent that they were no longer safe for the market women, saying, already officials of Public Works Department (PWD) had been asked to assess the cost of the rehabilitation to the Assembly. On the Assembly's revenue situation, Mr Asihene noted with concern that as at June, this year, the Assembly had been able to collect only 30 per cent of its projected annual estimates and reminded them that the performance, if not improved could negatively affect the Assembly's allocation of the Common Fund.

He, therefore, urged Assembly members to redouble their efforts towards assisting the revenue collectors in their areas to improve the situation.

Mr Asihene said the Assembly, in collaboration with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), was promoting the construction of household VIP and KVIPs in the district under a credit scheme.

He said currently, the scheme was being piloted in nine communities and called on the Assembly members to liaise with the CWSA for information to help facilitate the promotion process in the district to gradually eliminate the pan-latrine system.

He said under the District-Based Water and Sanitation Project Support Phase Two of the DANIDA-funded programme, six institutional KVIP latrines and six bore holes had been approved under the 2005 sub-project.

Mr Asihene said under the project, the beneficiary communities were expected to pay ten per cent of the cost but regretted that most of the communities that benefited from the project last year had not paid their contributions.

He, therefore, appealed to the members of the Assembly to encourage the affected communities and institutions to pay the expected contributions.

The DCE, who accompanied the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, on his recent trip to the Netherlands, announced that the delegation held fruitful discussions with the Wageningen University towards the establishment of the proposed University of Environment and Agriculture in Akyem Abuakwa.