Mfantseman Assembly achieve 93.75 percent revenue target

Saltpond (C/R), Feb. 11, GNA - The Mfantseman District Assembly collected 1,057,641.86 cedis internal generated revenue out of a target of 1,128,842,000 cedis representing 93.75 per cent last year. Its expenditure for the same period stood at 1,134,911,971 cedis as against an estimated 1,048,014,800 being 108.3 per cent. Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, District Chief Executive (DCE) stated this at the first ordinary meeting of the first session of the Fifth Assembly at Saltpond.

The DCE said only 54 per cent of internal generated revenue was collected in 2005 and commended the collectors for their performance in 2006, which he described as "impressive".

He said there was more room for improvement and urged them not to be complacent.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur said the district received 4,565,255,007 cedis as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the first three quarters and 341,272,604 cedis on behalf of the two Members of Parliament for their constituency projects.

The DCE said five school blocks, a teacher's quarters, four nurses quarters and 31 toilets were constructed while nine boreholes were sank with funds from the Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Fund, European Union (EU) and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).

Mr Quainoo-Arthur said 14 roads were rehabilitated and 10 communities connected to the national electricity grid. Nana Ataapim Kweenu VIII, Presiding Member, said the assembly had projected to mobilise 2,042,756,000 cedis in 2007 against an expenditure of 1,606,309,126 cedis.

He announced plans to launch a revenue education campaign to make the people know why they had to pay levies and taxes and appealed to the members for support.

The Presiding Member said the Assembly was considering entering into income generating activities such as a joint venture with other assemblies for oil palm cultivation and other plantations. The Assembly passed a fee fixing resolution for 2007.