TEMA ASSEMBLY MAKES FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS (PAGE 23, MAY 20, 2010)

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly has projected to generate GH¢ 5,648,807.00, for the year 2010.
The assembly generated GH¢ 4,391,254.38 last year representing about 92 per cent of the total budgeted revenue.
Addressing the opening of the First Ordinary Meeting of the 4th Session of the Assembly, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, announced that the expected internal generated fund for the year 2010 was 130 per cent higher than the assembly’s expected Common Fund of GH¢ 2,485,618.00.
He said the current revenue level was an indication that the assembly exercised strict expenditure control in the year under consideration.
On expenditure, Mr Ofosuware said the assembly could perform better but stated that some factors made it impossible.
He explained that increases in fuel prices, salary increases, the inability of companies like VALCO to honour their financial obligations to the assembly, had adversely affected its financial status.
Mr Ofosuware gave the assurance that the Assembly had identified new sources of revenue and in order to improve revenue mobilisation, it had started a programme to expand its revenue base .
The Chief Executive also focused his sessional address on issues including the security situation of the Metropolis, 2010 district level election, on-going development programmes and projects, education and sports, beautification of the city, preparation of a four year medium and long term development plan and challenges.
Mr Ofosuware said the metropolis had enjoyed relative peace without any major threat to the people.
He said the Tema Security Council was constantly monitoring all flash points to ensure that calm was always maintained.
Mr Ofosuware reminded members of the assembly of the 2010 district level election, noting that the ‘spirit of competition’ would be rekindled to elect new sets of assembly and unit committee members.
He appealed to interested members to put the national interest first and urged them to campaign in an atmosphere of peace and not to characterise it with acrimony, hatred and violence which can potentially disturb the peace of the metropolis.
Mr Ofosuware also appealed to women to let their presence be felt by participating fully in the elections.
On the improvement of environmental sanitation and waste management, Mr Ofosuware said the assembly had started clearing drains and engaged the services of small-scale enterprises for routine cleaning of selected streets, drains and choked sewers in the Tema metropolis.
Mr Ofosuware said the TMA was collaborating with Zoomlion to improve the output of workers under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to ensure effective supervision of work at the waste management department of the assembly and the Metropolitan Public Health Department.
He said the assembly was holding discussions with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to rehabilitate the Tema Sewerage system for which a proposal had been submitted to the ministry for consideration.
Mr Ofosuware pointed out that the road infrastructure project was ongoing to improve the road network in the metropolis.
He called on the assembly to formulate policies that would help move the metropolis forward to satisfy the interests of the electorate.
The meeting was attended by heads of various departments, community and opinion leaders, chiefs and some dignitaries.