'Stop over-relying on Common Fund'

A deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has challenged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to prioritise the generation of revenue for the development of their localities instead of over-relying on the District Assembly’s Common Fund for that purpose.

According to the deputy minister, even though government was making efforts to make the assemblies vibrant by providing them with the needed logistics, they also have to do their part by stepping up their game in revenue mobilisation to complement government’s effort.

He indicated that if importance was attached to revenue mobilisation, the assemblies can solely embark on massive developmental projects without necessarily waiting for the assistance from government.

Mr. Vanderpuye pointed out that there was a lot of pressure on government with regard to allocation of funds for development, adding that the assemblies’ ability to generate more revenues will not only make them independent in implementing projects but also lift off some of the burden on government.

“Some assemblies have to wait for the Common Fund to be able to embark on any developmental projects. What happens to these assemblies when the fund delays? The situation would have been averted if they have a strong revenue generating system to help them in times like that,” he stated.

The deputy minister made this known at Essarkyir during the inaugural meeting of the second assembly of the Ekumfi District in the Central region last Tuesday.

He stressed the need for the MMDAs to also pay attention to property rate collection and do the right thing in issuing permit for the building of structures since most areas in the country are becoming slums due to the haphazard and unplanned way of erecting structures.

Mr. Vanderpuye, who was representing the President, charged the Assemblies to make the National Sanitation Day (NSD) exercise an integral part of their activities so as to keep the country clean.

He revealed that his outfit was in talks with the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, to prosecute NSD offenders so as to make the exercise a developed attitude by all Ghanaians.

He advised the assembly members to live up to the confidence reposed in them by the people and make the people part of the decision-making and local governance so as to work for the public good and not for their personal interest.

Later, 33-year-old social worker and a government appointee in the Assembly, Ishmael Nana Asamoah, was elected the Presiding Member (PM) for the second time.

He polled 30 out of the 36 total valid votes cast to beat his contender, Ebenezer Amoah Ebonyin, a teacher who polled six votes.

The assembly members made up of 26 elected members and 11 government appointees were sworn in by His Lordship, Nana Rockson, the Magistrate in charge of Ajumako Court.

Meanwhile, at the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly, incumbent PM, Mr. Alex Kojo Appiah, was re-elected PM.

He polled 39 out of the total 50 valid votes to beat his main contender, Madam Comfort Garbrah, who polled 11.

Representative of the President, Mrs. Comfort Ama Benyiwa Doe, charged the assembly members to see to the rejuvenation of farming in the rural areas to promote the agricultural sector.