Two assemblies in the Northern Region have been advised to adopt technology to monitor and supervise systems in the mobilisation of their Internally Generated Revenue to reduce corrupt practices and improve on revenue generation.
The assemblies, which are Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly and Zabzugu District Assembly have also been urged to ensure effective and efficient accountability, probity and transparency in the use of revenue by involving community members in deciding the use of funds.
This formed part of recommendations of a survey conducted in August 2019 to assess views of members of residents on tax payment, utilisation, examine human capacity, structures, systems for revenue mobilisation and utilisation by the two assemblies.
It was carried out by the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Creation (NORSAAC) in collaboration with CUTS International with assistance and support from OXFAM which were made known at a forum organised by NORSAAC to help validate and disseminate results of survey to the two assemblies as well as solicit their inputs.
Appiah Adomako, the Country Director for CUTS International, presenting results of the survey, said findings from the survey showed minimal or no technology usage by revenue administrators, tax collectors in tax mobilisation in both Sagnarigu and Zabzugu assemblies.
He said out of 200 respondents from both districts, comprising 15 revenue administrators, 17 revenue collectors and 168 adult citizens, only 40 per cent and below of both revenue administrators and revenue collectors confirmed using technology application in revenue mobilisation.
“The results on public perception on tax payment and utilisation also indicated low level of information, awareness on tax affairs and entitlement by the citizenry in both districts willing to pay taxes but reluctant in doing so because they felt taxes were poorly used in the two assemblies.
“The misconceptions about tax usage is confirmed by act of tax collectors who divert revenue for personal use by issuing fake receipts, revealed revenue collectors from the two assemblies not highly educated, comprised Junior High School leavers, while they lacked logistics to function effectively and efficiently,” Mr Adomako lamented.
Alhassan Awal, the Executive Director of NORSAAC, admonished the two assemblies to start taking actions on issues raised, suggestions from findings of report to help them improve and bring positive results in revenue mobilisation. -GNA
