Wednesday, 8 August 2012



GOMOA WEST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HOLDS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING ON 3RD AUGUST, 2012


The Gomoa West District Assembly yesterday, 3rd August, 2012 held a general assembly meeting. 
DCE ADDRESSING THE DISTRICT HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
The meeting which took place at the assembly hall started at 11 : 24am, with an opening prayer by Hon. Cecilia Awotwe Pratt, the Assembly Member for Apam Esuekyir.
Before beginning his opening remarks, Hon. Anthony Eyiah-Quansah, the Presiding Member (PM) of the assembly asked that a minute silence be observed in honour of Late President Atta Mills. Continuing his address, the PM said that Gomoa West has witnessed a lot of infrastructural development, especially in the educational sector. To him, that is a great blessing for everybody in the area. He also called on assembly members to desist from litigation themselves and also do everything possible to discourage it in the district. According to him, the basis for making this appeal was that some assembly members have taken to litigation in the area and this is not good since it does not promote unity and peace among the people.

Another point of emphasis by the PM was that the assembly members should stay neutral in partisan politics. He explained that assembly members are leaders to all the people in their electoral areas. As such, if they show political bias, it will be difficult for them to unify the people. The PM added that the December, 2012 general elections are just around the corner and so it was incumbent for every citizen of Ghana  to behave and conduct himself/herself  in such a manner that will keep the peace that Ghana has been noted for.
Hon. Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, the DCE for Gomoa West also certainly had his turn to address the house. Beginning , the DCE commented that it was with a heavy heart that he addressed the house, but again urged all to be strong in the trying time of mourning Late President Atta Mills.
An issue that was well highlighted in the Hon DCE’s address is the quest of the district to enrol into the Rural Enterprises Programme. This programme functions mainly towards the reduction of poverty through the development of Micro and Small Enterprises in the district. As part of the requirements to enrol into the programme, there is the need for the assembly to form a sub-
committee on Micro and Small Enterprise Promotion. In this vein, the DCE suggested that the Sub-Committee on Production and Gainful Employment (SPGE) be reconstituted into Micro and Small Enterprise Promotion Sub-Committee. The SPGE can be so melted because it has become defunct due to ILO stopping to transfer funds to support the work of SPGE. 
Another key area that the DCE touched on was the aspect of revenue mobilisation. He stated categorically that the assembly has performed abysmally in the area of revenue generation. The DCE indicated that some area councils have stopped collecting their ceded revenue. This is adversely affecting revenue yield for the district and will, by extension, also affect the FOAT assessement of the district. He called on all stakeholders to be up and doing so that the desired revenue levels can be achieved for the development of the district.
Further, the DCE publicised to the house that the district received Nine Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty One Ghana cedis, Ninety Two Pesewas ( GH 987,531.92 ) as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for 2012. This figure received was against a composite budget of Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Five Hundred and Two Ghana cedis, One Pesewa ( GH 2,680,502.01) that the assembly presented. This represented a sharp reduction and so the assembly needed to prioritise it spending.
The DCE did not resume his seat without talking about the Apam Junction – Afransi Road which has become one of the major concerns of the people in the district. The DCE registered that the contractor working on that road has been offered all the necessary supported for the smooth running of the project, yet he is not committed to the job. From the DCE he (the DCE) has written to the appropriate authorities about this undesirable  attitude of the contractor. That upon his letter, the contractor came to give all assurances that the work would be executed as expected, but up to date the situation has not changed.
It is worthy of mention that in attendance at the meeting was Nana Ahunaku  Ahor Ankobeah II, the Omanhene of Akyempim Traditional Area. 


WRITTEN BY :ABRAHAM KWESI BISILKI
                           DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER
                           GOMOA WEST DISTRICT, C/R.
TEL:                  0243859920


  IT:                  ASTON KWEKU MENSAH
                         CIC MANAGER
                         GOMOA WEST
TEL:                0246685175


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