ASSIN SOUTH ASSEMBLY TO LEVY CONTRACTORS (PAGE 14, JAN 4)

Any contractor who wins a contract from the Assin South District Assembly will have to pay a levy of one per cent on the contract sum to the assembly for development projects.
The decision followed a recommendation by the Finance and Administration sub-committee which was approved by the assembly after the issue had been debated.
This was contained in the Executive Committee report presented by the District Chief Executive, Ms Sabian Appiah-Kubi, at the third ordinary meeting of the third session of the assembly at Nsuaem-Kyekyewere on Tuesday.
Ms Appiah-Kubi explained that the decision was taken to raise additional funds to enhance the development of the district.
On the payment of compensation to land owners for the assembly complex, Ms Appiah-Kubi said the assembly would pay in two instalments 70 per cent of compensation fixed by the Land Valuation Board, and that the farmers should sign an undertaking that they would vacate the land anytime the assembly needed it.
She said the assembly also decided to use part of the savings made to document and register the acquired lands for its complex.
She said the assembly also agreed to continue the teacher’s quarters’ project at Atia Labadi, and that members should mobilise revenue from their electoral areas.
The member of Parliament for Assin South, Professor Dominic K. Fobih, debunked allegations that he had been boycotting the assembly’s sittings.
Professor Fobih reminded members of the need to work hard and stressed that the assembly had come of age, adding that members should be united and be forward looking to enhance the development of the district.
The Presiding member, Mr Anthony Appiah, said the assembly would tap the experience of the Member of Parliament to enhance its work.
The District Director of Health, Mr Q.K. Mends, said seven more Community Based Health Planning and Service Centres would be opened to enhance health delivery services in the area.
The beneficiary communities are Assin Kumasi, Abodwese, Adiembra, Amanbete/Nkran, Nnua Nua, Homano and Kruwa.

POLITICIANS MUST NOT SHIRK RESPONSIBILITIES (PAGE 14, JAN 2)

The Mankrado of Komenda-Kokwaado, Nana Kodwo Sarpong III, has entreated politicians not to shirk their responsibilities towards their constituents.
Nana Sarpong deplored the attitude of some politicians who after winning the votes of their constituents turned their back on them instead of interacting with them to find solutions to their basic problems.
Addressing a durbar to mark the Kokwaadoman annual mpontu festival at Komenda-Kokwaado, Nana Sarpong appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads to open up the area for easy evacuation of farm produce to market centres.
Nana Sarpong said due to lack of access to feeder roads in the area there was high rate of post harvest losses which led to low productivity.
He said the area produced crops such as cocoa, oil palm, maize, plantain, cassava, coconut and oranges, among others, but indicated that poor feeder road network in the area hampered easy evacuation to market centres.
He, therefore, urged the ministry to open up the area to encourage farmers to increase production.
He also called on the sector agency to assist in checking erosion.
He also said that even though the community purchased its own electricity poles for the extension of electricity to the community, some areas did not have electricity because the Electricity Company of Ghana failed to extend power to those areas.
The Chairman of the Komenda-Kokwaado Development Association, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Christopher Abaka, advised the youth to study hard and never give up until they had achieved their ambition.
Mr. K Omenano who represented the member of Parliament for the area. Dr J. S. Annan, who is also Deputy Minister of Education (Tertiary), said the minister would assist the community to complete its meeting place.