Assemblies increase revenue, inaugurate projects

Five District Assemblies in the Northern Region and the Central Gonja in the Savannah Region have recorded increased revenue generation and inaugurated five projects, which will enable them to undertake initiatives that will bring development to their people.

Representatives were from Savelugu, Karaga, Kumbungu, Mion and Saboba assemblies in the Northern Region.

 There will be a construction of community centre and equipment for surgery at Buipe, residential accommodation for medical doctors and security personnel and furnishing conference hall all at Buipe financed through revenue from the Administration of Stool Lands with the aim at addressing some of the basic needs of the assembly.

These were made known at separate fora in Tamale in the Northern Region and Buipe in the Savannah North Region for budget, finance officers and revenue inspectors from the assemblies to dialogue and share information on how to improve on revenue mobilisation within their jurisdictions in order to motivate rate, toll and tax payers in the communities to pay more.

The fora was organised by Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), as part of Economic Governance Project (EGP), which formed part of the third phase of Empowerment for Life Programme implemented in the assemblies.

It was aimed at strengthening local government system to generate revenue, use resources to benefit residents and 350 revenue collectors in the assemblies trained under EGP to improve revenue collection and attract more projects to enhance livelihoods.

Madam Issifu Fozia, an Assistant Accountant in-charge of Internally Generated Funds at Mion District Assembly, noted that “compared to 2017 revenue generated, when the EGP was introduced, GDCA undertook initiatives such as sensitising residents on the need to pay their taxes, rates and tolls which shot revenue up and exceeded target in 2018.”

Mohammed Musah, Project Officer at GDCA in-charge of EGP, observed that 280 residents in the districts were also trained on revenue monitoring techniques to enhance efficient and effective relationship between the citizenry and the assemblies in generating internal revenue.

Salifu Braimah, the Savannah Regional Minister, who inaugurated the projects at Buipe, urged the district assemblies to use part of their Internally Generated Funds to undertake developmental projects and programmes.

Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor, Chief of Buipe, indicated that the development of the assembly was not the sole responsibility of the government but a partnership amongst traditional authorities, NGOs, the youth and the citizenry. –GNA