It has emerged that a fire outbreak that occurred in parts of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) in the Western Region, which destroyed a wooden structure, was as a result of the activities of Indian hemp or ‘wee’ smokers in the area.
DAILY GUIDE learnt that two female adults used to sell assorted items in the wooden structure in the evenings and according to the assembly, an assessment made by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the area revealed that the fire outbreak which occurred on April 10, 2021 at about 2am at Effiakuma Zongo was as a result of ‘wee’ smokers who left lighted ‘weed’ in the structure.
On May 4, 2021, another fire outbreak occurred again at Effiakuma Zongo in a building close to the Al-Zariah School with H/No. PT22/4.
That fire also affected a single room which belonged to a man who gave his name only as Philip.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Kojo Acquah, disclosed this when he was addressing the 2nd Ordinary meeting of the second session of EKMA.
The MCE said the NADMO Secretariat has embarked on assessment of weak structures within the municipality as part of measures to prevent disasters, and said the organisation made recommendations including the pulling down of all mud houses that had developed cracks, particularly at Whindo Old Town.
IGF
He said the assembly collected an amount of GH¢985, 388.86 as Internally Generated Revenue (IGF) as at May 31, 2021.
The amount, according to him, represents 33.56 per cent of the IGF projection of GH¢2, 936,350.00 for the year.
He added that the total budgeted revenue for the year was GH¢29, 851,970.04 and that out of the amount, GH¢3, 322,057.84 was realised as at May, 31, 2021, representing 11.13 per cent of the total budgeted revenue.
Mr. Acquah added that the total expenditure budgeted for the period was GH¢29, 882,470.04 while the assembly actually spent a total of GH¢10, 714,357.55 within the period, representing 35.85 per cent of the projected expenditure for the year.
He pointed out that the assembly had recently formed and inaugurated a Municipal Revenue Management Committee to ensure the management and improvement of revenue mobilisation efforts.
He mentioned some major projects currently being undertaken in the municipality as the construction of a three-storey office complex for the EKMA at Apremdo, which is about 80 per cent complete.
He also mentioned the construction of a municipal court complex and accommodation for court officials at Apremdo and Whindo respectively.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Effia