Talensi/Nabdam District Assembly holds first ordinary session

Tongo, March 11, GNA - The Talensi/ Nabdam District Assembly will have to take pragmatic steps, including innovations and the changing of market days, if the district is to survive.

Mr Boniface Gambilla, the Upper East Regional Minister, said this at the first ordinary session of the assembly in Tongo on Thursday. Addressing members of the assembly, Mr Gambilla said the revenue situation of the assembly was worsening because some market days including that of Tongo coincided with Bolgatanga market day.

''People often prefer to go to Bolgatanga to sending their wares to Tongo for the assembly to earn some revenue from tolls and levies.'' He said the new assembly generated only 11.2 million cedis since its inauguration four months ago and advised members to soberly reflect on the level of collection before taking any expensive decisions.

Mr Gambilla urged the assembly to assist students, whether they are nursing or teacher trainees, saying that their services would be needed for the future development of the district.

He commended the assembly for the projects so far undertaken against all odds and cautioned against people who think they have the right to vet the assembly.

Mr Gambilla appealed to members to help solve the recent clashes between Tongo-Beo and Gonno near Zuarungu. Mr Benard Bananzi, the Presiding Member of the assembly, urged members to forget about their individual differences to advance the business of the house through consensus building.

He said the assembly had acquired 111 acres of land for development projects and that a lay out and site plans had been drawn. Mr John Kolgo Tia, Member of Parliament for Talensi and Mr Moses Asaga, Member of Parliament for Nabdam, both from the district, attended the meeting.