District Assemblies challenged to set realistic revenue targets

Lawra, May 9, GNA - Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, has challenged District Assemblies in the region to set realistic revenue targets and work harder to mobilise more revenue for development projects. He said some of the districts have huge revenue potentials and could be raising more revenue considering the population increases in some parts of the region.

He said the assemblies must ensure that their revenue mobilisation was at par with the population increases whiles they also strengthen their supervision and monitoring roles, to forestall leakages. Mr Khalid said this when he addressed the Lawra District Assembly, at its first ordinary session at Lawra on Thursday. He urged the assemblies to review their revenue generation strategies and set realistic targets that would enable them to tap all available sources of revenue.

In the same vein, they should be mindful of their expenditures at all times and also pursue vigorous prioritization of projects. "A higher revenue generation and a reasonable expenditure level will enable assemblies to embark on plans and programmes that will complement government's development efforts", Mr Khalid said.

Mr Khalid said government was committed to ensuring a total development of the region, hence the rehabilitation of roads, provision of potable water, electricity and telecommunication, as well as health and education facilities, aimed at reducing poverty among the people. Mr Samson Abu, Lawra District Chief Executive, in his welcoming address, said the provision of quality and affordable education was of greatest concern of government and that every effort was being made to improve the sector at all levels. He announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) would construct five schools in the district this year whiles the assembly would also make provision in its 2010 District Assemblies Common Fund supplementary budget to support the district directorate of education to carry out its science programmes. It would also make provision to pay kindergarten teachers, promote sports and cultural development, reward the best teachers and organise mock examinations for Junior High School students. Mr Abu said the assembly had given financial support to 78 teacher trainees, 41 tertiary students and eight needy and physically challenged students, He also urged the people to educate their children. On health, he said the assembly would provide support for the district health directorate, in the area of malaria control and HIV and AIDS related programmes, offer financial assistance for medical doctors and student nurses to improve on the staffing position of health personnel in the district. Mr Abu announced that 340 acres of maize, 100 acres of rice and 200 acres of sorghum would be cultivated under the "Block Farming" Programme this year. Registration of farmers was ongoing to cultivate six acres of maize and 100 acres each of sorghum and soyabean respectively, under the Northern Rural Growth Programme. The District Chief Executive also announced that 15 boreholes would be drilled in the area with support from the Japanese Embassy in Accra. Three hundred hectares of teak, cobia acacia, mahogany as well as cashew and mango, among others, would be planted, under the National Forest Plantation Programme. 9 May 10