Heads of Departments especially those from the Budget and Finance Units of the Assembly, visited the Area Councils including, Aboadze/Abuesi, Dunkwa-Beposo, Assorko-Essaman, Inchaban, Shama-Junction and Shama respectively.
Briefing the electorate at Beposo Area Council on the MTDP, Mr. Emmanuel Nana Yartel, the Assistant Budget Analyst at the Assembly, stated that the Assembly collected a total of GHC357, 630.89 in 2014, out of a projected amount of GHC453, 630.89 representing 78.79 percent from internally-generated revenues.
In 2015, he said, the Assembly collected GHc341, 503.43 out of an estimated amount of GHC476, 124.00 representing 71.73 percent from levies, fees, licenses, rent, lands and royalties, which constituted the internally-generated revenues.
With regards to external revenues received within the two-year period for developmental projects, he said, in 2014, a total of GHC2,340,412.59 was allocated to the Assembly as its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF), however, only GHc616,025.87 was released representing 26.24 percent.
In 2015, Mr. Yartel said, the central government allocated GHc2, 499,105.31 to the Assembly, but only GHc1, 605,513.33 was received representing 64.24 percent.
Moreover, the Assembly received GHc352, 450.00 out of the actual allocation of GHc595, 720.00, as district development fund in 2014, while GHc280, 311.00 was released in 2015 out of GHc430, 000.00 allocated to the Assembly.
Asked about measures instituted to increase the Assembly’s internally-generated revenues, the District Budget Analyst indicated that the Assembly would establish payment points at vantage points in the District to ensure easy access to revenue collectors by rate payers.
In addition, he said, public education campaigns on importance of paying taxes and levies would soon be organised on a local radio station christened “Time with the Assembly”.
He said the regular accountability fora organised by the Assembly in the various area councils served as platform to educate the electorate on the projects being executed with their resources so that they would be willing to pay their taxes and levies.
Mr. Yartel added that the completion of the Street Addressing and Property Numbering project in the District would enable the Assembly to have accurate database for easy identification of property in the area, for valuation and charge appropriate fees and rates.
Mr. Jeffery Scott, Assistant District Planning Officer, said the consultative meeting with the people helps to improve participatory governance and enable the people to express their views on the challenges militating against the development of their respective communities.
Some of the projects implemented within the last two years included community-based health planning services(CHPS) compounds, markets, mechanized bore-holes, installation of pipes on bore-holes, construction of public bath house, water closet toilet facilities, classroom blocks and ancillary facilities, community centres, public drains, among other social interventions.
The consultative meeting was jointly organized by the Assembly and Friends of the Nation, a Takoradi-based non-governmental organization, and funded by the Centre for Democratic Development.
Source: GNA
