By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Sept. 10, GNA – The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has inaugurated its Tema Central Sub-Metro Council, with a call on the sub-metro to help increase revenue to facilitate development.
Ms Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), in a speech read on her behalf by Mr John Nana Owu, the Tema Metropolitan Coordinating Director, commended the sub-metro for increasing its revenue and urged them to do more.
Ms Bright said by law the sub-metro was entitled to 50 per cent of what it collected, adding that the TMA had been strictly following the provision.
She gave assurance of the TMA’s sustained commitment towards providing them with the needed support to make the sub-metro functional and a model for local development.
The MCE explained that the inauguration followed the replacement of appointed members of the Council in accordance with the Local Government Act and the legislative instrument that established the TMA.
The sub-metros, she stated, help to strengthen grassroots governance and development for the people, adding that they acted as a direct link between the community and the Assembly for the voices of residents to be heard and their issues catered for.
She reminded assembly members of the relaunch of the national sanitation day and their duties to ensure that their electoral areas were clean, reminding them that President John Dramani Mahama had made sanitation issues a key indicator for the performance of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Meanwhile, Mr Emmanuel Swanzy Martin has been elected as the Tema Central Sub-metro Chairman after he garnered 16 votes as against his contender, Mr Anthony Kow Sam-Anoon, who received four votes out of the 20 total votes.
Mr Martin, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the Councilors for the confidence reposed in him, indicating that he did not take lightly the responsibilities placed upon his shoulders, and pledged to build upon the foundation laid by his predecessor.
He said he would be guided by the task from the MCE for them to improve revenue, ensure good sanitation, and orderly development to make the community healthier and more conducive.
He further assured that he was committed to working hand in hand with Councilors, traditional authorities, civil society organisations (CSOs), and residents, stressing that government was a shared responsibility.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo