DCE says Asutifi's revenue generation is low

Kenyasi (B/A), Sept 4, GNA - Mr Michael Nsiah Agyapong, Asutifi District Chief Executive, has expressed concern about the assembly's persistent abysmal revenue mobilization in spite of consistent tax education programmes.

The DCE urged the local government sub-structures to adopt a strategy towards improving revenue mobilization to ensure rapid development.

Addressing the second ordinary meeting of the Assembly at Kenyasi, Mr Nsiah Agyapong said the Assembly collected only 72 million cedis for the first half of the year, representing 49 per cent of the target of 145 million cedis.

He declared the Assembly's intention to spread development projects throughout the district but said that the objective could only be achieved with stepped up revenue mobilisation. Projects earmarked for the year include an office for the District Health Management Team (DHMT) estimated valued at 541 million cedis and renovation of the District Magistrate Court at the cost of 186 million cedis.

Three Area Council offices for Kenyasi Number One, Ntotroso and Nkaseim would also be completed.

Mr Nsiah Agyapong said 210 million cedis, being 20 per cent of the assembly's second quarter's share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of 1.054 billion cedis, had been set aside for disbursement as Poverty Alleviation Loan.

He said the assembly has spent 19 million cedis and 16.8 million cedis respectively to assist tertiary students and teacher trainees in the district.

Mr Nsiah Agyapong said ISODEC, an NGO and the District Assembly ware sponsoring 21 girls with 900,000 cedis each per year in senior secondary schools.

Two trunk roads, one linking Dadiesoaba to Mehame Junction and the Sunyani-Ntotroso-Acherensua road, are being built to open up the district.

Mr Paul Okoh, MP for Asutifi North, called on members to place premium on the district's Mutual Health Insurance Scheme by encouraging families to embrace it.

He said opponents of the Scheme would soon begin to realise its prospects.

Mr S. B. Nsankyire, Presiding Member, said the Assembly was doing its best to recover Poverty Alleviation loans, adding that, recalcitrant defaulters would be arraigned before court.