The Agona West Municipal Assembly has adopted strategic and comprehensive measures to increase revenue mobilisation to support the implementation of government policies and programmes aimed at improving the living standards of residents.

Saeed Bashiru, the Municipal Finance Officer (MFO), said the Assembly had projected GH¢5 million in internally generated funds (IGF) for 2026 but had collected GH¢2,999,204.56 as of the end of September.

The Assembly has consequently set a revenue target of GH¢6 million for 2027, hoping to improve its revenue collection performance to make a meaningful contribution to the implementation of its budget.

Bashiru said the Assembly’s share of the Common Fund for 2027 would be allocated to priority areas, including inner-road construction, health, education, water supply, traffic light maintenance and sanitation.

The Municipal Finance Officer was briefing the media after the Assembly successfully defended its 2027 budget at a hearing attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Agona Swedru.

Other Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that appeared before the representatives were the Agona East, Gomoa Central and Gomoa West assemblies. Their 2027 budgets were also approved for inclusion in the national budget, which is yet to be presented by the Minister of Finance.

Bashiru said the Agona West Assembly had performed creditably in its 2026 revenue mobilisation efforts, contributing to the approval of its 2027 budget, which is expected to support infrastructure development in education, sanitation and health.

He said the Assembly’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) machines were being used to reshape roads across the municipality. He urged residents, particularly shop owners, store operators and other businesspeople, to pay their taxes and property rates promptly to enable the Assembly to carry out its activities effectively.

He assured business operators who were struggling to pay permits and other fees that the Assembly was open to discussions to address their concerns, promote business growth and improve its revenue mobilisation.

Evans Andoh, the Gomoa Central District Coordinating Director, said the construction of two major roads—from Ajumako to Afransi and from Apam Junction to Afransi—had negatively affected the payment of rates and other taxes to the Assembly. However, he expressed optimism that it would meet its revenue targets before the end of the year.

He said the Assembly had complied with government guidelines on the use of the Common Fund and had received its share, which would help it pay contractors promptly upon the submission of payment certificates for completed projects.

Andoh announced that the Assembly had completed and handed over all projects undertaken in 2025 to their beneficiary communities. He added that it would hand over projects awarded this year, including legacy projects, to the relevant communities to improve residents’ living conditions.

On the boundary dispute, the Coordinating Director disclosed that the Assembly had engaged its sister Effutu Assembly, as well as chiefs from Gomoa and Effutu, to address revenue collection challenges and find a lasting solution to the land dispute.

He said the Members of Parliament for Gomoa Central and Effutu were also holding discussions to resolve the matter and promote peace, stability and development between the two administrative areas.

Nana Kweku Esieni V, the Regent of Agona Swedru, commended the Agona West Assembly for its hard work and prudent use of revenue collected. He urged the Finance Department to intensify its efforts to mobilise sufficient funds to support development programmes.

The regent also called on the Assembly to regularly inform the public about how revenue collected from drivers, business operators, shop owners and store operators was being used, particularly for road maintenance, traffic light repairs and other public services, to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations.