President John Atta Mills on Tuesday observed that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have done very little in internal funds generation and thus depended wholly on the District Assembly Common Fund. He, therefore, called on the MMDAs to initiate new strategies to generate adequate revenue to complement funds from central government. President Mills made these remarks in a statement read on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of the Fifth Session of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), comprising 140 Assembly Members, in Accra. He asked the members to serve their people and country at the local government level in a way and manner that people would appreciate the fact that they were truly participating in the decision making process and governance of the nation. President Mills cautioned the Assembly Members not to use their position to gain contracts or undue favours from the assembly as they would be committing a serious offence of conflict of interest and would be liable to sanctions. He said that seeking favour from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) also undermined the authority of the Executives. President Mills said: "As representatives of the President and the first servants of the state at the district level, MMDCEs must comport themselves in the administration of the MMDAs to demonstrate to the people that they are indeed available as chief servants of the districts". He urged the members to put premium on sanitation and waste management activities to rid the towns and cities of filth and health problems associated with unsanitary conditions and to be diligent, accountable and responsive to their individual assemblies and the people. Mr. Alfred Vanderpuije, AMA Chief Executive, said the inauguration of members as representatives of their various electoral areas had concretized the decentralization process and given true and practical meaning of people's participation in matters that affect their circumstances. He said the AMA had demonstrated for the past two years a commitment and devotion to the people, but were faced with numerous challenges. Mr. Vanderpuije said the increasing urbanization leading to traffic congestion, pressure on infrastructural facilities, demand on sanitation standards, inadequate housing and lack of financial resources to cope with the sanitation were some of the challenges facing the AMA. "We live in an era when doing the right thing seems to be wrong and unpopular. But please remember that we are not running a popularity contest. The right thing is always the right thing and the right thigh must be done", Mr. Vanderpuije said. He noted that the assembly had amended its bye-laws on street hawking within the city and effective 1st April would come into full force, adding that any citizen who flouts this law would be bundled before the newly established sanitation or circuit court for prosecution. Mr. Vanderpuije called on the members to avoid and resist any temptation that may tend to lure them into acts which were not in consonance with the assembly's regulations, saying his doors would always be open for consultations. Mr. Vanderpuije asked them to work together with the spirit of co-operation, respect, and a sense of integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities. Source: GNA