By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA
Atortorkorpe, Nov. 10, GNA – Assembly members of the Ada East District Assembly have expressed frustration over the continued non-release of GH¢20,000 earmarked for Area Councils, saying the delay is undermining their ability to support development and effective local governance.
The concerns were raised during the Third Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Ninth Ada East District Assembly, where members challenged the assembly’s position that they were required to formally request the funds before they could be transferred.
Ms Jean Ameley Tagoe, the District Coordinating Director (DCD), explained that assembly members were expected to submit requests for the funds but assured them that steps would be taken to activate their respective accounts to facilitate payment.
Some members, however, disagreed with the explanation, arguing that the relevant legal provisions required the funds to be transferred to the Area Councils without making payment dependent on individual requests.
Mr Abraham Teye Korley, an assembly member criticised the assembly’s handling of the matter, accusing it of negligence for allowing the accounts to become dormant and delaying the release of the funds.
On infrastructure, Mr Kenneth Kabu Kofi Kanor, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said the assembly had been allocated 13 kilometres of roads for development in the coastal belt.
Mr Kanor said the Kasseh-Ada Foah Road project, which commenced in 2016 under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, was halted when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office for investigations.
He said President John Dramani Mahama had subsequently indicated at a meeting that the road would be undertaken under the second phase of the government’s ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme.
On sanitation, the DCE said the assembly paid Zoomlion Ghana Limited GH¢98,000 every three months for sanitation services.
He said the company had provided nine refuse containers to support waste collection but explained that the truck responsible for emptying them also served Ada West and South Tongu districts.
He appealed to interested residents to submit their names for consideration in the operation of tricycles for refuse collection to improve sanitation services.
Mr Eric Otumfuor, the assembly member for Totimekorpe, however, called for clarification on the project’s status, saying he had been informed that the road was not part of the ‘Big Push’ programme, contrary to claims being made.
Mr Prosper Tetteh Puplampu, Assembly Member for the Puteh Electoral Area, also called for regular watering of the Totope road to reduce dust pollution and its effects on residents.
Some assembly members also expressed concern about sanitation officers and other technical staff calling for community clean-up exercises without adequately addressing the logistical and operational challenges confronting the communities.
The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday, November 10, following concerns about poor lighting in the assembly hall, where only one functioning bulb made it difficult for members to continue proceedings.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA