By Shaibu Yussif
The Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly (GCMA), Hon Aristo Aryee has entreated the media to help give the Assembly some more publicity.
He said even though the GCMA has been in existence for almost a year now, most residents of the municipality appear to be unaware of its existence and are therefore compelled to go all the way to the Ga South Municipal Assembly for services which is available at his outfit at Sowutuom, the head quartered of the assembly.
This appeal was made by the MCE when he granted an exclusive interview to The Al-Hajj at Sowutuom over the weekend.
The MCE said a lot of the services being offered by the Ga South Municipal Assembly situated at Weija; are available at Sowutuom, the capital of the GCMA and urged residents to patronize them instead of continuing to do business at Weija.
Hon. Aristo Aryee said plans are far underway for the assembly to offer DVLA and NHIA services in addition to Birth and Death which have almost started operations, all in an attempt to realize the rationale behind the district assembly?s concept of bringing relevant services at the door-step of inhabitants.
He used the opportunity to touch on some progress made so far as well as some challenges that are being faced by the assembly since its inception almost a year ago.
The MCE disclosed that the assembly has just completed compiling a database of all properties and businesses in the area which will serve as a source of revenue for the assembly.
He disclosed that the assembly has not been able to rake in as much revenue as expected but said they were managing with the situation as steps are being taken to improve on the revenue generation capacity of the assembly.
According to the MCE, upon assumption of office, he realized that flooding posed a major challenge to the area so he contacted the NADMO to come to their aid, a pleading the said NADMO ceded to by helping the assembly to train some officers who are now always available to attend to flood matters any time they occur.
On the menace of land guards, he said the problem has been brought under some control but he was quick to add that some parts of the municipality such as Anyaa and Ablekuma are still grappling with the issue land guards.
He said there were few occasions when task force from the assembly were attacked by land guards, a situation the MCE said has been brought under control because he has been able to secure the services of a uniformed police officer who is attached to the task force team, especially when they are operating within any of the hot spots.
?We are also talking to the chiefs to desist from using land guards in their operations because the underlining effect of most of the land guard problems is protracted chieftaincy disputes,? the MCE stated.
Refuse collection, he said has not been a problem per se but the problem has to do with refuse disposal site which is situated at far away? Kpone and the long distance involved in disposing? refuse comes at high cost to the assembly.
Explaining further on measures taken to improve upon revenue mobilization, Hon. Aristo said the assembly has taken control of most markets and some lorry parks so as to make sure that revenues collected do not go into the hands of private individuals.
Office accommodation, he said remains a major challenge for the assembly but promised to change the situation for the better within the shortest possible time.
Source: The Al-Hajj
