Sekondi, Sept. 24, GNA- The Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) was able to collect an amount of five point one billion cedis as at July 31, this year out of an estimate of 18 billion cedis projected for the year 2003, representing 68 per cent of the total annual estimate.

Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive disclosed this at the third meeting of the assembly held at Sekondi on Wednesday.

He said the actual expenditure as at July 31 this year also stood at four point nine billion cedis as against a projected annual expenditure of 17.12 billion cedis.

Mr. Nkrumah said comparing the actual revenue collected and the actual expenditure made during the period, the assembly's budget is on course.

He congratulated all the sub-committees for their commitments and dedication to duty, adding that the committees did not only meet regularly and making useful inputs to the good administration of the assembly, but in addition, their vigilant eyes on projects through constant monitoring ensured that all jobs that were undertaken were carried out efficiently to ensure value for money. On development, Mr. Nkrumah said the assembly started the year with 29 development projects out of which 27 projects have been completed and handed over.

He explained that the projects were carried out under the HIPC fund, District Assembly Common Fund and nine projects financed from the assembly's own resources.

Projects undertaken include the rehabilitation of eight staff quarters and bungalows and construction of classroom blocks, while rehabilitation works were done on four staff quarters, construction works on a three-unit classroom block at West Ridge school Sekondi are still on-going and almost complete.

Mr. Nkrumah said the assembly-sponsored projects include the construction of three-unit classroom block at Nassiriya Primary School at Takoradi, rehabilitation of Nana Kobina Nketsia JSS at Essikado and conversion of a kraal at Mampong-Abaasa to a health post.

On roads, the Metropolitan Chief Executive said much work is being done on drainage, slab replacement, minor drain repairs and grading works, all at a cost of two point seven billion cedis.

He said education continues to attract the attention of the assembly as it has allocated one point two billion cedis for education this year.

Most of the schools in the metropolis have benefited from supply of school furniture, from both the assembly and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Mr. Nkrumah said the assembly has purchased 20 television sets to be distributed to selected schools to enable them to participate effectively in the Distance Learning programme under the President's Special Initiative for education.

To motivate teachers in the deprived schools such as Akromakrom, the Assembly has purchased for them polytanks, gas lamps and gas cookers, he disclosed.

He hoped the incentive would retain the teachers in the deprived schools and attract other teachers to such areas. Mr. Nkrumah disclosed that under the President's Special Initiative of rehabilitation and upgrading of one second cycle school in each of the 110 districts, an amount of one point six billion cedis has been lodged in the assembly's accounts to rehabilitate and upgrade the Shama Secondary School, which has been selected in the metropolis.