The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon. Deborah Ampofo, has assured the Zonal Councils of the timely and regular release of parity to enable them to implement their plans and programs.

She disclosed this when she inaugurated the sixth (6) Council of the Abokobi Zonal Council on Wednesday, 20th March 2024 at Abokobi.

The Abokobi Zonal Council is one of two in the Municipality, with the Dome Zonal Council the other.

The Council is made up of fifteen (15) Members, three (3) each from the five Electoral Areas (Abokobi, Ablorh Adjei, Agbogba, Haatso, and Atomic which constitutes the Abokobi Zonal Council.

The inaugural ceremony also saw the election of Hon. Kenneth Nii Amon Antonio, a Unit Committee Member in the Abokobi Electoral Area, as the Chairman of the Council, supervised the Municipal Electoral Officer, Ms. Janet Koranteng.

In her address, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Deborah Ampofo, who swore in the Councilors and the Chairman, said that records available to her show undue delays in the payment of parity by the Assembly to the Councils, promising to ensure that the funds are transferred to them without delays to enable them to implement their planned activities.

"Since my assumption of duty, I have identified a lapse in the payment of parities to the Zonal Councils. I want to assure you that we will work effortlessly to ensure the timely release of the funds to enable you to execute your programs', she stated.

She emphasized the need for the Council to come out with new strategies that will help address sanitation and revenue mobilization challenges.

"Sanitation and revenue mobilization are two of the critical sectors that we expect you to explore innovative ways to help address the shortfalls", she charged.

She urged the Councilors to work as a team eschew partisan political tendencies and interests and seek the general good of the people in their area.

The Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Nii-Amarh Ashitey, read and explained the mandate and functions of the Zonal Council and Unit Committees as enshrined in the Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Unit Committees) (Establishment) Instrument, 2010. L. I. 1967, indicating that further orientation programs would be organized to enhance their work.

The Council Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Nii Amon Antonio, expressed gratitude to the Counselors for electing him into the high office to serve the interest of the people in the Zone.

He pledged to work with all, regardless of their political affiliation and appealed for their support to ensure a successful tenure.

Among the dignitaries at the inaugural ceremony were the Presiding Member (PM) and Assembly Member for Kwabenya, Hon. Bright Paul Mintah, and the immediate-past Assembly Member for Ablorh Adjei, Hon. Jacob Ablorh.