Nkwanta (V/R), July 13, GNA - The Nkwanta District Assembly has paid GHc 5,100 or 51 million cedis as ex-gratia award to former assembly members. Some of the beneficiaries got the full GHc150 or 1.5 million cedis package while others were paid part of the amount due to inadequate funds.

The Assembly could not raise the budgeted GHc 6,700 or 67 million cedis and had to defer some payments. Mr Joseph Denteh, Nkwanta District Chief Executive (DCE), was answering questions during the recent first Ordinary Session of the Assembly at Nkwanta. He expressed regret that the half-year revenue figure was an appalling, 32 per cent of the budgeted figure, blaming the poor performance on ageing revenue collectors, unenclosed markets and untapped revenue sources.

Mr Denteh said locally employed staff of the Assembly had not been paid for between three to five months. On the issue of funds to support activities of the disabled, he said though a legislative instrument backing the law was yet to come out, the Assembly had been giving support to the disabled, mentioning a recent GHc2, 000 or 20 million cedis support to the Nkwanta Community Based Rehabilitation of the blind by the Assembly. Meanwhile, Mr Denteh has announced that the Assembly was to meet chiefs and elders of all communities, which were not using new markets built for them. He said the Assembly would ensure that traders used the neglected markets including those at Kpassa and Bonakye. 13 July 07