Mankranso (Ash) Dec.26, GNA- The Ahafo-Ano South District Security Council (DISEC) has entreated the police to step-up its night patrols in the area to help stem criminal activities during the Christmas festivities.

Mr. Kwaku Obeng Boateng, District Chief Executive (DCE), who made the call in his sessional address at the third ordinary meeting of the Assembly at Mankranso on Monday, also urged assembly members to co-operate with the police since crime prevention required the efforts of all.

He said suspicious characters loitering around the communities should be reported to the police in order to maintain the prevailing peace in the district and also to ensure an accident-free Christmas. Touching on the financial situation of the District Assembly, the DCE noted with concern, that the delay in preparation of the Assembly's internally generated budget estimates for 2007 did not augur well for the Assembly and therefore, stressed the need to discuss, approve and implement this year's financial estimates, fee-fixing resolutions, procurement proposals and others before the ensuing financial year. Mr. Boateng expressed optimism that the assembly would be in a better position to maximize its revenue target since, as at October ending, this year, it mobilized an amount of GH=A266,985.37 from the estimates of GH=A287,714.33 representing 76 per cent despite the challenges it faced.

He announced that the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DNHIS) registered about 33,520 members with a premium of GH=A2106,939.10 (=A21,035,679,000) as a subsidy from the government. Mr. Boateng commended the District Health Directorate for the outstanding performances in diseases control, especially the absence of any recorded cases of polio.

The DCE expressed appreciation to the members of the Assembly, Chiefs, Heads of Departments and the entire citizenry for their support and cooperation in the discharge of his duties. 26 Dec. 07