Work hard for common fund to be increased - Minister

Apam (C/R), July 12, GNA - The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment would only consider increasing the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF0 when it realizes that the assemblies intensify internal revenue generation.

Mr Stephen Kojo Asamoah-Boateng, the Sector Minister announced this at a meeting with assembly members, chiefs, assembly workers and heads of departments at Apam on Monday as part of his familiarization tour of some district assemblies in the Central Region.

"The call on the government to increase the DACF from five per cent of the national revenue to 10 per cent will be considered when the assemblies step up local revenue generation," the Minister stated. He said the current situation where most of the assemblies relied on the DACF, as their main source of income would not bring any meaningful development to the people.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said he has selected four areas as his priority where his attention would be focused. They are environmental sanitation, revenue generation, deepening of the decentralization process and ensuring harmony between stakeholders such as District Chief Executives, Members of Parliament and chiefs.

He urged the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies where big companies and houses were located to mobilize enough revenue to meet their needs and for the reserve to be transferred to district assemblies, which were not endowed with enough resources. The Minister stated that his Ministry would not consider any application for transfer of money to any assembly for refuse collection. He stated that DACF allocated to the assemblies were to enable them to purchase equipment for refuse collection and other duties to improve the lives of the people.

Mr. Asamoah-Boateng was not happy with under-utilisation of the vast tract of arable lands in Gomoa District and gave the assurance that his Ministry would not hesitate to provide some tractors to the assembly if the people were ready to cultivate the land. Ms Joyce Aidoo, the District Chief Executive commended the government for the number of projects executed in the district. She appealed for rehabilitation of some roads, which were in deplorable conditions. They include Ankamu-Afransi road, Kasoa - Nyanyano road and Potsin - Awombrew road.

The Minister and his entourage visited Gomoa Sampa to see how the school-feeding programme was being implemented.