Interventions enhance assembly's revenue collection

Akim Oda, (E/R), Dec. 17, GNA - The success story of the Birim Central Municipal Assembly's revenue mobilisation, was due to over 40 programmes, as interventions to enhance revenue collection. The establishment of an effective supervision and monitoring roles, training of revenue collectors and renumbering of property rate are some of the interventions and reforms.

Mr Frank Marcellus Kwame Busumtwi, Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), was addressing the general session of the 48-member assembly at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region. Mr Busumtwi said the delivery of a Nissan pick-up and four Jialing motorcycles was part of the reforms, which he described as tools that facilitated the assembly's revenue development.

As at the end of October 2008, the municipal assembly collected internally generated revenue totalling GH¢254,134.71, representing 88 per cent of the assembly's estimated revenue of GH¢310,031.00. As at the close of July, 2008, the assembly collected total revenue of GH¢ 190,534.91 as against estimated revenue of GH¢165,795.58, representing 15 per cent increase in the estimated revenue during the period.

Mr Busumtwi said almost all the assembly projects were financed either through the District Assemblies Common Fund, HIPC, GetFund or donors like the European Union (EU) and Social Investment Fund (SIF). He said the assembly had paid the matching fund, and the operation/maintenance on behalf of the communities. Mr Busumtwi said the assembly's expert revenue mobilisation was the result of some pragmatic approach to data collection and also due to the introduction of new taxable items.

He was happy that the municipality had the consideration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to rope in additional 1,000 pupils under the School Feeding Programme, and that, "the necessary arrangements to help take absolute control of the programme are underway".

Mr Busumtwi said the assembly was a social-amenity-oriented which had executed about 99 different projects in the various electoral areas this year.

According to him, the Akim Oda ceremonial street lights would be extended to Akim Manso through Asene and that the on-going electrification project would also benefit communities like Oda Nkwanta, Manso Senior High School and clinic, the industrial village, Quarters/Bungalow area and the Amantra area. Mr Busumtwi commended the assembly members, staff of the assembly and the good people of the municipality for their concerted efforts and constructive contributions at meetings and said: "It would let you gain much experience to handle district level governance assiduously and diligently".

He appealed to the electorate to endeavour to ensure that the run-up of the December 28, presidential elections in the Akim Oda and Akim Swedru constituencies would be peaceful as was the December 7 general elections.

Mr Busumtwi said that did not record any chaos and confusion and therefore, commended the Election Security Advisory Committee, the local Media and political parties for their co-operation with the office of the Municipal Election Commission.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr William Ompong-Kwaku, Municipal Finance Officer (MFO), gave the 2009 summary and expenditure estimates for the assembly as GH¢3,660,720.05 as revenue budget for next year as against GH¢3,219,584.00 for this year, while the actual, between January and September, 2008 was GH¢1,815,917.10. Mr Ompong-Kwaku gave the total expenditure budget for 2009 as GH¢3,659,841.05 as against GH¢ 3,216,152.00 for 2008, while the actual was GH¢ 1,753,135.50.

He explained that the revenue included rates, lands, fees and fines, licences, rents, grants, investments and miscellaneous, while the expenditure were personal emolument, travel and transport (T&T), general expenses, maintenance, repairs, renewal and miscellaneous. Mr Ompong-Kwaku gave the expected revenue estimated budget for total grants for 2009 as 3,237,956.05 Ghana cedis as against 2,859,863.00 Ghana cedis for 2008, with actuals between January and September, 2008 as 1,277,195.31 Ghana cedis. He said the grants included salaries and wages, district assemblies' common fund and members of parliament common fund and their interests, HIPC funds and EU micro projects. 16 Dec. 08