Kibi (E/R), Oct. 29, GNA - The East Akim District Assembly on Friday elected, Mr Seth Asiedu Asante, a Retired Educationist, as the new Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly. Mr Asante, who was the only contestant for the position polled 35 votes out of the 40 votes cast.

The election was necessitated by the creation of the Atiwa District, which led to some former members of the East Akim District Assembly including the PM joining the new District Assembly. The East Akim District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene called on the assembly members to redouble their efforts to enable the assembly to achieve its objectives.

He expressed displeasure about the performance of revenue collectors in the District and said "several of our revenue collectors are bringing moneys much lower than targets set, in most cases, amounts lower than their monthly salary".

Mr Asihene urged the members to initiate positive measures to improve revenue collection so that the Assembly could generate enough money for development projects.

He announced that, Allied Sugar Products would establish a sugarcane processing factory in the District and that the Assembly had paid 150 million cedis out of the 500 million share holding commitment required for the take off of the project. Mr Asihene said 10 boreholes and six KVIP toilets would be built in the District by the end of 2004.