Assemblies urged to strengthen revenue mobilisation base

Dormaa Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo) 20th May 99 --

The Brong Ahafo regional minister, Mr Donald Adabre, has stated that no District Assembly can develop its area of jurisdiction without ample financial resource.

He has therefore called on District Assemblies in the region to formulate and execute strategies for the effective mobilisation of revenue to meet the expectations of their communities.

Mr Adabre was addressing the Dormaa District Assembly at its first ordinary meeting at Dormaa Ahenkro on Tuesday.

He noted that the Common Fund alone cannot cater for the numerous projects expected to be carried out by the assembly, and urged assembly members to explore sources of revenue to support the development needs of their areas.

Mr Adabre said the District Assembly concept is a "dynamic and viable instrument for the social and economic transformation of the people, whose trust are in the assembly".

He said certain divisive tendencies have lately characterised the work of district assemblies, while partisan influences have been the bane of some of them, and others get involved in chieftaincy matters.

"Getting involved in unwarranted politics that lead to excessive partisan posture and inclinations does not augur well for the assembly's developmental obligations" Mr Adabre warned.

He announced that plans are far advanced for the Electoral Commission to conduct elections to fill vacancies in the 43 unit committees in the region, which have been vacant since last year.

The Regional Minister commended the Dormaa District Assembly for achieving 95 per of targeted revenue last year and urged it to aspire to hit the 100 per cent.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Kwadwo Boateng, said the assembly has planned to collect 1.498 billion cedis this year, out of which 80.6 million cedis is expected to come from traditional sources.

Stool lands revenue is also expected to reap 300 million cedis while 1.005 billion cedis will come from the Common Fund and ceded revenue.

On expenditure, Mr Boateng said 970 million cedis would be spent on development projects, 525.6 million cedis on recurrent expenditure and 280 million cedis on emoluments.

The assembly has so far disbursed 120 million cedis under its poverty alleviation fund to 1,500 people in the district to enable them to establish or expand their businesses.

The DCE said the Youth in Agriculture project has taken off in the district, and already 13 farming groups have been granted loans totalling 20 million cedis.

GRi?/