The west Gonja municipal Assembly in the savannah region has held it's first ordinary meeting of the third session of the Assembly in Damongo.
Delivering a sessional address in accordance with the local government Act, 2016(Act 936) on the occasion on Tuesday, 10th May, 2022, the Municipal Chief executive for the Assembly, Hon. Musah Karim Kusubari gave an update of major activities carried out within the period under review stating that the year under review was a challenging one noting that the delay in releasing the district Assembly common fund to support some ongoing developmental projects and programmes of the Assembly and the occurance of the global pandemic, Covid 19 which affected the whole world with it's related health and economic difficulties adding that despite this challenges, the Assembly was able to make some advances in some key development areas.
On revenue mobilization, the MCE explained that the performance of the west Gonja Municipal Assembly in revenue mobilization and generation within the first quarter of the year 2022 has declined a bit as compared to the first quarter of year 2021 which is likely to affect the mission and projections of the Assembly as only Ghc 51,538.00 representing 30.64% of internally generated funds was collected out of an estimated amount of Ghc 168,211.26 and called for an improvement in the areas of revenue mobilization to meet the ever increasing recurrent expenditure and budgetary provisions of the Assembly.
The municipal chief executive disclosed that, the West Gonja municipal Assembly is now part of the Ghana secondary cities support programme which is a five year programme funded by the world bank with a credit facility of US $ 100 million and anchored on governments broader decentralization support programme which focuses on Municipal Assemblies that manage urban development in secondary cities with it's focus on two key areas such as improving institutional performance of urban management and improved urban services in participating municipal Assemblies.
He further disclosed that, the West Gonja municipal Assembly has made giant strides in the provision of social infrastructure in the first quarter of 2022 as the construction of an ultra modern community center and two Astro - turf stadiums are currently ongoing at Damongo and laribanga which are at various stages of completion, all through the dynamic and benevolent leadership of the member of parliament for Damongo, Hon. Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor.
On recommendations from the executive committee, Hon. Musah Karim kusubari said, the executive committee has held discussions with the various sub - committees and concluded on collaborating with the National road safety Authority and other key stakeholders in the municipality to call for broader consultative meeting with vendors operating along the shoulders of the roads within the Damongo township on how to get them out of the shoulders of the roads, an exercise he said will need the formation of a task force to ensure full compliance by vendors.
The MCE used to the occasion to make a passionate appeal to members of the Assembly to as usual deliberate on issues that are of concern to the people and focus on development projects and programmes and Assured the general house that the development of the Assembly is on course and could be achieved through their support.
The Assembly member for the Apelso electoral area, Hon. Mohammed Mumuni who served one term as presiding member for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly at the close of nominations for the election of a presiding member, was the only candidate who filled for the position and received an overwhelming endorsement from members present to serve another term as presiding member for west Gonja municipal Assembly.
Meanwhile, the West Gonja Municipal Assembly will soon be serving final eviction notices to owners of temporary structures at unauthorized places within the Damongo township.
Kumatey Gorden
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