Bia District Assembly holds meeting

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Essam
07/03/08

THE Bia District Assembly in the Western Region mobilised a total of GH¢97,746 from its internally generated sources of revenue last year.
The amount showed an increase of 8.6 per cent of the assembly’s target of GH¢89,988 for the year.
The significant increase in the assembly’s revenue collection from internal sources was the result of contracting a private company in Accra called Matphijoe Consult and Business Services, to collect the property rate on its behalf.
For the first time since the creation of the assembly, last year was the only time the assembly was able to maximise the collection of property rates from companies and organisations.
The Bia District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Benjamin Armah, announced this at a special assembly meeting at Essam to deliberate on the draft budget estimates and fee-fixing for 2008.
He said the assembly received an amount of GH¢690,648 out of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢1,070, 000 for 2007.
Touching on stool land revenue, Mr Armah stated that out of the projected amount of GH¢97,000, the assembly received GH¢50,500, representing 52 per cent of the figure.
He added that last year, the assembly undertook 16 projects, which included the construction of a slaughterhouse at Debiso at the cost of ¢737,252 and a ten-seater aqua privy toilet facility at Essam. Both projects are 45 per cent complete.
According to him, the assembly was constructing an Area Council office at Adabokrom, a two-bedroom staff quarters and five-bedroom chalets at Essam as well as a five-room office block for decentralised departments.
“It is also constructing an Area Council block at Elluokrom at a cost of GH¢34,307 and a three-unit classroom block, office and store, staff bungalows, a KVIP public toilet and a urinal at Kumkumso at the cost of GH¢49,240,” Mr Amoah added.
Other projects under construction include three-unit classroom block each at Oseikrom and Akatiso at a total cost of GH¢73,664 as well as a three-unit teachers’ accommodation each at Essam and Debiso at a total cost of GH¢152,860 as well as a GH¢342,930 District Education office at Essam and the extension of electricity to the DCE’s new residential area at Debiso at a cost of GH¢38,214.