Tamale, July 15, GNA- Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE,) on Friday catalogued a number of development programmes that he believed improve the social and economic aspirations of the people of the metropolis.

He mentioned the beautification of the metropolis, electrification and renaming of streets after illustrious sons and daughters of the area, the development of the Children's park, the creation of a peace square and the provision of proper sanitation facilities as some of the projects he intended to carry out.

Mr. Adam made this known at a press soiree hosted by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) for media personnel.

He said the assembly planned to host a donor's conference with development partners, NGOs and other stakeholders concerned with the development of the Metropolis to see how they could create jobs and help reduce poverty, especially in the rural parts of Tamale. He said efforts would also be made to streamline the assembly's internal revenue mobilization drive to make it more effective and efficient.

"If the people in the metropolis readily pay their property rates the assembly can realise 10 billion cedis annually."

Mr Adam said the assembly would soon introduce a sanitation levy and also take some revenue from companies that had erected billboards in and at the outskirts of the metropolis.

He said efforts were being made to relocate all fitting workshops whose activities destroy the roads and also cause accidents in the metropolis.

Mr Adam said over the years the assembly had achieved a lot but this had not been highlighted.

"It is therefore my vision to build a credible public relations system within the Assembly and to develop good working relationship with the media so that information will flow freely to the general public". He said his administration would organise quarterly meet the press forums to keep the press abreast with developments in the metropolis. "I must say that I do appreciate the role the media is plying and continue to play in the development of the Metropolis in particular and the region as a whole."

"I however wish to use this platform to appeal to you, particularly FM stations in Tamale, to ensure some control over your airwaves since some unscrupulous people hide behind the freedom of expression to make unguided statements that can lead to trouble in the metropolis." Mr Adam said unity and stability was now returning to the assembly and it was therefore incumbent on them to take advantage of the situation to further deepen the unity not only in the assembly and among assembly members but also outside the assembly and the whole of Tamale. "Poverty and illiteracy are so endemic in our communities and to eradicate or even reduce them we need the combined efforts of all. That is why unity is so urgent now than ever before.

" We have to leave a legacy that befits our status as honourable men and women whom our people have entrusted the responsibility of moving the Metropolis forward," Mr Adam said.