In fulfilment of a directive issued by government to all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to organize ‘meet the press’ in their districts to bring to the fore government’s flagship programmes, management of the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly led by the MCE, Hon Simon Kweku Tetteh, has engaged the press yesterday (Monday, 28 October, 2019) at the Agormanya Roman Catholic Parish Hall.
The first official ‘meet-the-press’ engagement has called on residents to take payment of property rate and other levies serious.
Responding to a question regarding the performance of the Assembly on Internal Generated Funds (IGF), Hon Simon Tetteh appealed to all citizens of his municipality to pay their property rates, business operation fees and other legitimate levies to enable the assembly do more, especially in his administration where he is facilitating more development projects into the area.
The performance in terms of IGF, he said, has declined in 2017 and 2018, thus the assembly will soon summon ‘recalcitrant residents’ who are not willing to pay levies (property rate).
The Assembly (Lower Mmanya Krobo) until 2017 report, the Auditor General’s report, had been indicted for various financial irregularities including misappropriation, goods not passing through stores among others.
But the story presented itself different in the 2017 and the 2018 Auditor Generals’ report. While the Assembly was not cited for any wrong doing in the 2017 report, it was accused for abandonment of project in the 2018 report – a finding the municipal chief executive explained was as a result of miscommunication. He however, said, letter of clarification has been sent to the Auditor General for correction.
The strategy which brought the Assembly thus far according to Hon Simon Kweku Tetteh, is following good governance practices and applying financial management systems in all assembly transactions.
The MCE, Mr Simon Tetteh presented narrative and pictorial evidence of all development projects he has facilitated within the last 33 months as chief executive for the area.
Appreciated by almost the participating public and the journalists, was the MCE’s effort to complete projects started and abandoned by the previous government. Key among them include the 3-unit classroom block at Agormanya Islamic Junior High School, a 9-unitTeachers Bungalow at Oborpa East, the about 17 offices accommodation for Odumase Police Command, the dormitory for the Odumase Nursing Training College and a dining hall for Krobo Girls Senior High School.
He further promised, he will ensure all other abandoned project in his municipality are completed for use in spirit of value for money.
His outfit has also started and completed modern classroom blocks for Oborpa Djekiti KG, 6-unit for Yokwenor Primary, a 3-unit for Akosombo Ketem, a 3-unit for Yonguase and a 6-unit for Odumase Anglican schools.
Still counting, there are about 10 ongoing education infrastructure projects with work at various levels of completions across the municipality, which the MCE assured to complete and handover for use to in no time.
The presentation by Hon Simon Kweku Tetteh touches almost all the human development areas including health, education, agriculture, sanitation, security, accountability (town hall meetings and radio engagements), employment and job creation, democracy (referendum) among others.
Over 1, 297 persons are recruited for both salary and self-employed jobs since 2017. These are 375 NABCO personels, 206 personnels in Youth in Afforestation Program, 257 Youth Employment Agency employees, 300 persons who received skills training in various vocations and 159 persons with disability who received various economic empowerment items meant for their business starting capitals.
Mr. Simon Kweku Tetteh appealed to the media to use their good platforms to educate the public on the need to support the president’s call to amend Article 55(3) of the 1992 constitution. He also asked the general public to vote massively “YES” come December 17, 2019.
The Electoral Commission has set December 17, 2019, to conduct a National Referendum. The referendum is targeted at reviewing Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to make it possible for the District Level Elections to be conducted on partisan basis. Presently, Article 55(3) which is an entrenched clause prohibits Political Parties from sponsoring a candidate, the use of political party symbols, and canvassing for votes on the platform of a political party on the District Level Elections.
Present at the maiden edition of district level ‘Meet-the-Press’ series were Hon. Samuel Nuertey Ayertey, NPP parliamentary candidate for 2020 election and Eastern Regional Deputy Minister, Mrs Apedo who is the Municipal Coordinating Director of the Municipality, The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon Awuley Mensah and the New Patriotic Party’s constituency 2nd Vice Chairperson.
The rest were Mrs Linda Korkor-Tsu Adadevor – a legal practitioner and entrepreneur, the Director for National Disaster Management Organization, Mr. Zacharia Adam, some heads of department, the participated public and the media.
Source: ritefmonline.org
