Regional News of Tuesday, 31 October 2006

Source: GNA

Some KDA members accused of planning to ban the payment of levies.

Keta, Oct 31, GNA- Some members of the newly inaugurated Keta District Assembly have been accused for promising their people to abolish levies when elected.

Their identities were however, not disclosed.

Mr. Edward Kofi Ahiabor, Keta District Chief Executive (DCE) who made the allegation reminded the assembly members in particular and the people in general that the levies and dues were the only means of improving the assembly's kitty to enable it meet its social and economic responsibilities.

He cautioned that any assembly member who succeeded in influencing the people to boycott payment of levies to the assembly would have his area blacklisted in the distribution of development projects. "You caused the assembly, yourselves and the communities a disservice in your desperate attempt to secure victory and you must remove the mess created," the DCE said.

Mr. Ahiabor asked those assembly members to quickly disabuse the minds of their people on the issue.

"The allowances you receive at general meetings and others are borne from those rates," he said.

Mr. Ahiabor also asked the assembly members, made up of 48 elected and 21 government appointees to assist the assembly to raise its revenue and sensitise the people on the assembly's activities. Meanwhile, the assembly would elect its presiding member in two weeks time because the two candidates who contested the position on Monday failed to win the two-thirds majority after two rounds of voting.