Asante-Akim South assembly holds third ordinary meeting

Juaso (Ash), Dec 18, GNA - Dr. Lord Justice Gyamfi-Fenteng, Asante-Akim South District Chief Executive has stated that a total of 25,444 pupils in the district are benefiting from 763.2 million cedis per academic year under the capitation grant.

He said Dansabonsu AME Zion, Yawbarima. Ahyiresu, Tokwai-Kokobeng and Yawbronya local authority primary schools have also been selected to benefit from the pilot-feeding programme aimed at improving nutritional status of children as well as increasing access and retention in schools.

Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng made the statement at the third ordinary meeting of the third session of the assembly at Juaso last Thursday. He, therefore, challenged the assembly members, chiefs and all stakeholders to ensure the objective of the programme was achieved and pointed out that more structures and facilities would be provided to contain the increasing number of school children.

Touching on revenue, the DCE noted that an amount of 453.6 million cedis representing 49.2 per cent of a target of 921.7 million cedis was generated.

He attributed the low performance in revenue generation to the failure of the revenue collection machinery and non-co-operation on the part of the public.

Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said in order to achieve its revenue target next year, the finance and administrative sub-committee decided not to increase levies for 2006.

He said the overall revenue target for 2006 was estimated at 10.3 billion cedis with 10.2 per cent of it expected to be internally generated.

On the youth employment, the DCE said a programme seeking to employ 600 youth made up of 365 males and 235 females was under consideration.

According to him, a task force to that effect had been formed and a youth employment co-ordinator would be employed to implement the programme.

Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said areas that would be considered under the programme included rural education volunteers, auxiliary nurses programme, community protection units, youth in agriculture and afforestation, trades and vocations.

Mrs Gifty Ohene Konadu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante-Akim South, urged the assembly to increase loans given to women groups so that they could invest them in profitable ventures, saying meager amounts given to them was a contributory factor to the increasing mismanagement of the funds.

She disclosed that plans were afoot to establish women centre in the district to address issues bordering on women's plight as well as their empowerment.