The Ablekuma North Municpal Assembly (ABNMA) held its first ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the second Ablekuma North Municipal at the Assembly Conference Hall on Thursday April, 27th, 2023. A twenty-four (24) Hon. Assembly Membership under the watchship of the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Kofi Ofori (Bella) deliberated on pertinent issues affecting the Municipal Assembly. The full house was presided over by Hon. Presiding Member (PM) Hon. Edmond Nii Lomo who also doubles as the Hon. Assembly Member for Kwashieman Electoral Area. Hon. Sheila Bartels, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma North Constituency was in attendance. Hon. Kofi Ofori delivered his session which was centered around the General Administration matters, Financial Performance, Sanitation and Waste Management, General Security matters, Education, Health and Road Network. Hon. Kofi Ofori expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty God for his continous protection of his Collegue Assembly Members, Management and Staff for how far he has brought them as an Assembly. On Financial Performance of the Assembly, Hon. MCE said that there was no doubt that the financial strength of the Assembly largely determines the extent to which it could effectively impact on the lives of its people, hence it was looking at implementing innovative measures to maximize its revenue. Adding that, he said this year (2023) the Assembly projected a total collection of 4.4 million Ghana cedis from all sources. As of 31st March, it has been able to make away a total Gh₵764.653.86 respectively 17.3% of the total projection. Therefore, companing 2022 figures with 2023, by 31st March, 2022, the Assembly had accrued an amount of Gh₵873,250.42 respectively 20.3% of total budgeted revenue of 4,266,131.5. This absymal performance in the first quarter this year can be attributable to the takeover of property rates by the Central Government through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). He ended with the recommendations of the various Sub Committee which passed through the Executive Committee. Hon, Kofi Ofori in his final address to the house said that Management should have full access to the system used for revenue collection from the point of Generating, Printing, Distribution of Bills and Collections. Management should ensure strict compliance with the Terms and Conditions stipulated in the Revenue Contracts, especially the Generation and Submission of reliable data to Management, he added. The house, later raised few concerns on the Sessional Address and adopted some for implementation.
