The Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly (UMKDA) has ended its first ordinary meeting of the 4th session of the current Assembly with approval of 15 key decisions including the Executive Committee’s call on Management of the Assembly not to award any new contract until all ongoing Assembly projects are fully completed.
This, according to deliberations before the approval at the Thursday, 15 June, 2023 meeting, the decision was as a result of a total of two million, seven hundred and ninety-five thousand, three hundred and seventy Ghana Cedis, seventy-six pesewas (GH₵2,795,370.76) outstanding debts owe contractors for work done and also ongoing infrastructure projects.
In his mandatory sessional address, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon. Joe Sam said, “that Management should not award new contracts until all ongoing projects are fully completed and commissioned for use.”
However, Honorable Joe Sam was quick to state with a condition that new contract could be awarded unless under emergency circumstances.
“…except in an emergency situation,” the DCE said.
Having taken into consideration any legal action which may occur as a result of the current debt, the Management of the Assembly was tasked to take steps to immediately pay contractors who are being owed to avoid any judgment debt against the Assembly.
Checks indicated that the Assembly has received two hundred and sixty-three thousand, eight hundred and eighty Ghana Cedis, sixty-three pesewas being the Assembly’s share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), in December, 2022; covering the last quarter of 2022 physical year.
It was also reported during the meeting that local revenue generation from January to May, 2023 recorded two hundred and thirty-nine thousand, two hundred and fourty-three Ghana Cedis, sixty-three pesewas.
This was a 28.3 per cent of the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) target set for 2023 calendar year, ending December 31.
A critical analysis of the decision not to award new contract until all outstanding debts are cleared indicates that, physical infrastructure development including community health planning and services compounds, schools, potable drinking water sources (boreholes), road reshaping among others would be in a stand still for the next two and a half years.
All things being equal, the GH₵ 263,880.63 DACF would be able to settle the GH₵2,795,370.76 outstanding debt in the next ten quarters, making two and half financial years.
Reacting to this, the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Bismark Tetteh Nyarko encouraged the Assembly Members, Heads of Department and Management to work hard and smart to improve the revenue mobilization of the Assembly.
While acknowledging government effort to turn the economic fortunes of the country into resilience, Mr. Tetteh Bismark underscored that the central government financial inflows to the about 260 District Assemblies in Ghana could not be enough to meet the development needs of the various Assemblies.
‘Crying’ for 1 District 1 Factory (1 D-1 F), Mr. Tetteh Bismark has appealed to his constituents to put aside New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Party (NDC) politics, and work together to secure a factory for the area.
Addressing the meeting about the security situation in the District, Superintendent Jeremiah Alale who is the Asesewa District Police Commander noted saying, “the security situation in the district is calm.”
Giving his reason, Supt. Alale said, “till now, we have recorded only one robbery case at Boeyonya in January, 2022.”
Speaking to Trust FM on Wednesday, a day ahead of the meeting, Mr. Jeremiah Alale noted that the notorious Asesewa – Akateng Highway robbers who, used to disturbed travelers plying the route were arrested and currently serving their jail terms, and thus the peace in the area.
Appealing for support, he asked the Assembly to provide water into the over 60 years old Police Barracks just opposite the District Assembly to keep the security personels in a confine residence.
According to him, almost half of the rooms were vacant while officers apply for accommodation allowance at the cost of the tax payer due to absence of water in the facility.
Supt. Jeremiah Alale earlier on Wednesday, made a public call, pleading on philanthropists, well to do individuals, Asesewa community and organizations to support the command with GH₵ 4,500.00 to buy a charger for a breakdown Novara patrol vehicle to assist them in patrol activities.
In what suggested to be lack of seriousness towards Assembly business by some heads of department and management, the Presiding Member, Hon. Tettey Eric ordered all heads of department to write and present report in the subsequent Assembly Meetings.
He directed the Electricity Company of Ghana staff present at the meeting to attend to unattended complaint made by the Assembly member for Jomoa Odometa Electoral Hon Isaac Baah , two years ago with immediate effect.
Among the 15 key decisions approved as working document for the Management of the Assembly included appealing for public support for completion of a police station at Otrokper, improving over the previous year, the award scheme for the District Best Farmer Award, consideration of gratuity otherwise known as ex-gratia for Assembly Members subsequent to their dissolution in October this year, fixing of all 10 recently commissioned boreholes, enforcement of by-laws to arrest stray animals, especially those which destroy farms to avoid destruction of farms and reshaping of roads in the rural areas to facilitate easy market access as major crop harvest draws nearer.
The DCE, Hon Joe Sam reported that a total of 71.9km distance of roads were reshaped in various communities in the district.
Mr. Victor Amponi, the Director for Commission for Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), in the district used his turn to explain the responsibilities and mandates of the department, and also encouraged members to fall on his office for assistance anytime the need arises.
Other dignitaries who graced the meeting were the District Coordinating Director Mr. Nketia Donkor, Heads of various Department of the Assembly, representative of the person with disability and some members of both the NPP and NDC.
Story by: Omanba Kodwo Boafo/Trust FM/www.trustfmonline.com
