OMA to pursue vigorous infrastructure development

Obuasi, (Ash), May 18, GNA----The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has projected a vigorous infrastructure development programme, which is to be pursued during the next four years.

The projection is in line with government's positive change Chapter Two programme.

Mr. Joe Boampong, the acting Municipal Chief Executive, who announced these at the fifth ordinary session of the assembly, said the programme involved the tarring of roads and the extension of water and electricity to all areas in the Municipality.

Construction of drains at the low-lying areas of the municipality would also be undertaken to check floods.

The acting MCE said to achieve the projections needed strict discipline from all and sundry "in our day-to-day activities" as well as commitment to duty and hard work.

He said the last four years saw the assembly (formerly Adansi West) chalking some successes, which included placing fifth and first in the national league table of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In addition, a total of 40 six-unit and three-unit classroom blocks were built, whilst 12 old school buildings were rehabilitated.

Mr Boampong said other projects that were undertaken included six teachers' quarters, three community libraries, four rural clinics, 23 vault chamber toilets and rehabilitation of 247.6 kilometres stretch of feeder roads.

During the same period, a total of 547 students were granted scholarships with 255 youth given skills training. Mr Boampong said the first Obuasi traffic light system was built with major funding from the Obuasi Development Fund that was established by the assembly.

He added that the last four years saw improvement in revenue generation with the assembly achieving 86 percent of the revenue target in 2001, 103 percent in 2002, 101 percent in 2003 and 100.1 percent in 2004.

"The assembly estimated to collect 2,901,892,209.00 cedis from its internal sources in 2004, but we collected a total 2,904,449,335.00 cedis as at 31st December, 2004, representing 100.1 percent and in terms of growth, the internally generated funds increased by 26 percent over the 2003 figure", the acting MCE said.