Minister expresses disappointment over revenue mobilization

Winneba (C/R) June 29, GNA - Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, has expressed disappointment at the level of revenue mobilization of the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Assembly in the Central Region. He said even though the level of budgeting for revenue mobilisation was extremely low, revenue collectors did very little to mobilize what was budgeted for leaving the Assembly to rely heavily on the District Assemblies' Common Fund.

"The Common Fund is not meant to be used for the payment of salaries and allowances of people, who refuse to work; the focus is for developmental purposes," Mr Asamoah Boateng told members of the Assembly when he interacted with them on Monday as part of a three-day tour of the District.

He said the fundamental duty of the Assembly was to mobilize funds and if this was not being done, then there was the need for a re-orientation for all the assembly members.

Mr Asamoah Boateng interacted with the chiefs, assembly members, heads of departments and the people and encouraged them to re-orient themselves towards the development agenda of the Government. He said a close look at the revenue expenditure statement for the year ending December 31, 2005, revealed that revenue was 878 million cedis while expenditure was 1.438 billion cedis.

Mr Asamoah Boateng said the Assembly achieved only 14 per cent of its estimated revenue generation, which was woefully inadequate. He said estimating the size and commercial activities of the District, which included Kasoa, Bawjiase, Winneba and Senya Beraku, he was disappointed that the budget estimate for revenue collection from lorry parks for the year 2005 stood at only 120 million cedis. "Even this target was not achieved by the Assembly," he said. Mr Asamoah Boateng noted that revenue from timber was only a million cedis while kiosks fetched five million cedis. He called on the Assembly members to re-identify the different areas of revenue mobilization in their areas to beef up the total income of the Assembly.

"If we are able to increase the revenue base of our District, development would also speed up for the benefit of our people.=94 Mr Boateng said there was the potential for the development of tourism in the area, but this could be achieved if only the chiefs and people worked in unity.

"Do not let boundary problems divide you. The administrative boundaries are clear, let's stick to them."

Mr Solomon Abam Quaye, District Chief Executive, Awutu-Effutu-Senya, admitted that the revenue collection for the District was bad saying that this had led to the transfer of some of the personnel in charge.

He appealed to the Government to come to the aid of the District by constructing some of the roads that led to the major towns. Mr Quaye also called for the upgrading of the District to a municipal status saying the population was becoming too big. 29 June 06