By James Esuon
Nsaba (C/R), July 01, GNA-Mr Samuel Oscar Mensah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agona East has outlined plans and visions to help make the district vibrant to enhance infrastructure and increase revenue mobilisation to promote development.
According to the DCE, revenue collection was key to infrastructural and human development, hence the need to adopt strategic plan to achieve that objective to ensure transformation.
Speaking to the GNA in an interview at Agona Nsaba, Mr Mensah said the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) was not encouraging when he assumed office, but he had within two months, marshalled forces to improve upon it.
This was achieved after some broken down vehicles for revenue mobilisation were repaired to achieve their target.
The DCE said the Assembly had also erected revenue collection points at Agona Duakwa and SWESCO on the Swedru/ Awutu Bawjiase road as part of efforts to increase revenue generation as the Assembly could not depend only on its share of the Common Fund for its expenditure and financing of projects.
Mr Mensah announced that the government had released colossal amount for the construction of a 24-hours market in the district, saying that land had been acquired and soon construction works would be commenced.
He said the released of the funds for the project, was empirical evidence of President Mahama’s commitment to execute the 24-hour economy policy to create jobs and wealth among citizens in Agona East.
The DCE said the construction of the market would have a kindergarten, police station, fire station, fuel station, clinic and a bank where market women, traders and other businesses could operate 24 hours.
He further hinted that ‘’Working Abroad ‘’ policy introduced by the government had also been implemented and 21 people including masons, carpenters, truck operators and others have been selected to be sent abroad to work in various countries.
He said some basic schools complained about lack of tables and chairs due to increasing enrolment of pupils, and so some 400 tables and chairs were distributed to schools to ensure effective teaching and learning.
The DCE said government was committed to implementing the free tertiary educational policy where first year students would not pay fees and those wanting loans assured to receive and repay them after graduation.
The DCE said recently, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Area, Mrs Queenstar Maame Pokuaa Sawyer, donated mathematical sets to BECE candidates as her continuous efforts to support quality education in the Area.
He hinted that the MP, though bereaved, went ahead to release funds to reshape Akim Oda/ Swedru / Nsaba highway after receiving complaints from commuters and drivers plying the road, after the contractor working on that stretch left site.
On sanitation, the DCE said it was one of the key indicators to assess the performance of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies by the government, saying everything possible was being done to ensure that Agona East District became the neatest in the Central region and the nation.
He called on Ghanaians to embrace the reset agenda being prosecuted by President Mahama’s government by changing their attitudes and behaviour so that the economic transformation agenda would be achieved.
Mr Mensah commended traditional rulers, the clergy, CSOs, students, market women and other identifiable groups in the district who on Tuesday, July 01, attended the Agona East National Day of Prayer to pray for attitudinal change and prosperity of the nation.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Kenneth Odeng Adade