Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region has acquired a brand-new Changan Hunter pickup vehicle to strengthen the operations of its Works and Physical Planning Department and improve revenue mobilisation efforts within the municipality.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Lower Manya Krobo, John Atter Matey, on Friday, May 15, 2026, officially handed over the vehicle at the Assembly premises in the presence of the Municipal Director, heads of department, Assembly staff, and other officials.

Speaking during the ceremony, Matey disclosed that the vehicle was procured through the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF), describing the acquisition as part of a broader strategy to strengthen local revenue mobilisation and channel resources into impactful development projects.

According to him, previous administrations largely used the IGF for smaller-scale interventions, but his administration intends to invest in projects and logistics that would improve productivity, service delivery, and long-term development within the municipality.

“Today, we have used our Internally Generated Fund to purchase a brand-new pickup to enhance revenue mobilisation. Under the previous NPP administration, the IGF was used for small projects, but under my watch, we want to use it for bigger projects for Lower Manya Krobo,” he stated.

The Assembly Chief noted that he has personally joined the revenue mobilisation exercise and has encouraged Assembly staff to intensify efforts aimed at improving the municipality’s revenue base.

He expressed optimism that the new vehicle would ease monitoring, supervision, and field operations by the Works and Physical Planning Department, while also supporting revenue collection activities across communities within the municipality.

The MCE further announced plans to acquire an additional vehicle in the near future to support the work of the Assembly and improve operational efficiency.

“We shall purchase another one to make our work easier and use the proceeds for more development. I thank my staff for the support in ensuring that this has been achieved,” he added.

The acquisition comes at a time many Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana are under increasing pressure to improve internally generated revenue to support local development amid delays and shortfalls in central government transfers.

In recent years, local assemblies across the country have faced significant challenges in revenue mobilisation, including inadequate logistics, weak data systems, poor tracking of economic activities, limited public compliance, and insufficient taxpayer education.



Studies on Ghana’s decentralisation system have also shown that many assemblies remain heavily dependent on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), with some districts relying on central government transfers for the majority of their revenue.

To address these concerns, the government in recent years has introduced measures aimed at strengthening fiscal decentralisation and improving direct funding to local authorities.

In 2025, the government announced a policy to ensure that 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund would be disbursed directly to MMDAs to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve project execution at the local level.

Despite the challenges, some assemblies have recorded gains in local revenue mobilisation.

Officials believe investments in logistics, technology, and staff mobilisation — such as the procurement of operational vehicles — remain critical to improving the efficiency of local governance and accelerating development at the district level.