From Ernest Best Anane
The Sekyere South District Assembly has realised GH¢365,240.45, representing 88% of the expected collection of GH¢44.89.88, as at October 31, 2013.
Mr. Edward Kusi Ayarkwa, District Chief Executive for the area, announced this at the 3rd Ordinary Meeting of the 3rd Session of the Assembly.
He said, as at the end of October, 2013, the external grants received totaled GH¢929,277.03, which include the District Assembly Common Fund and District Development Fund.
According to him, the Assembly estimated to spend a total of GH¢327,098.78 from the Internal Generated Fund (IGF) for the year 2013.
The Assembly, he said, spent a total of GH¢302,168.84, representing 92% of the total expenditure, adding that the Assembly was likely to exceed its recurrent expenditure as a result of the increase in utility charges and fuel.
He said the Assembly’s tipper truck, which performs commercial work, was able to accrue an income of GH¢47,950 from the beginning of the year, with an expenditure of GH¢20,171, and that the wheel loader and grader, mostly used for commercial work, were able to bring in
GH¢69,850 and GH¢10,190 respectively from the commercial work they embarked on, and indicated that the expenditure made on them was GH¢7,333 and GH¢3,999 respectively.
Mr. Ayarkwa said steps were being taken and consultants contacted to provide appropriate structural designs which would be presented to the house for approval, in order to ease the office accommodation challenges facing the departments, while a facelift and refurbishment of the administration building have commenced in phases.
The entire office would be refurbished as funds become available, as adequate provision has been made in the 2014 budget estimates to cater for residential accommodation for the staff in the district.
He said education continued to receive the needed attention from both central government and the Assembly, adding that a total number of 2,800 mono desks had been distributed to schools in the district, while additional laptops had been distributed to the second cycle schools, and a total number of 135,506 exercise books also distributed to basic schools in the district.
He disclosed that with the growth of population and expansion of the communities in the district, there was the need to plan ahead in the distribution of educational facilities, and therefore, proposed for the consideration of the house, the establishment of a Senior High School at Bipoa.
He suggested the need for the District to move higher up in education, by having a university, for which he urged the Assembly to support individuals, groups or organisation that intend to establish a university in the district.
According to him, discussions were being held with the Presbyterian and Pentecost churches on the establishment of the university in the district, and announced a favourable response regarding negotiations with the said churches.