KKDA approves 2016 composite budget

The Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly has discussed and approved its revenue and expenditure projection under its 2016 composite budget.

The composite budget provides the aggregation of projected revenue and expenditures of departments with a framework for consistent policy implementation, budget credibility, consolidated financial reporting and external scrutiny and oversight.

Mr Noble Atsu Ahadzie, District Budget Analyst for the District, giving an overview of the assembly’s financial performance of revenue and expenditure from 2015 to June 2016 at the assembly’s general meeting, said the budgeting system would determine the inflow and outflow of resources and projects with a unified approach for effective implementation of programmes, planning, effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

He said the assembly, in spite of its challenges in revenue mobilization, hopes to rake in GH?13,217,233.00 with an Internally Generated Fund (IGF) of GH?4,755,023.00.

This amount, he stated, would be collected through various revenue mobilization strategies including the adoption of an electronic platform for the collection of data and revenue with vigorous tax education and effective monitoring and supervision of tax collectors.

The total budget projection for IGF, he indicated, had decrease by 15 per cent in the budgeted figure for 2015, due to some factors which affected the financial performance of the district, in terms of revenue mobilization.

“This was as a result of the reduction in the payment of property rates, so for now we want to be on the modest side and work assiduously in our door to door collection and updating of existing database, which could ultimately culminate in an increase by mid-year” he further explained.

The Budget Analyst conceded that the assembly needed to do more in terms of revenue mobilization to complement government’s subventions for socio-economic advancement and other development priorities of the district.

Mr Anthony Nukpena, 38, and a social worker, who was sworn in as the Presiding Member of the District Assembly, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) called on his colleague members to do away with partisan politics and work in the interest of the people they represent.

He noted that the success of every district assembly depended on the diligence of its members, admonishing them to unite and stick to their core mandate of promoting peace, security, development and advancing good sanitation practices to ensure public and environmental health at the local level.

He said the over reliance on central government funds was not sustainable in the development drive of the assembly and called for renewed strategies to generate sufficient revenue for development.

Alhaji Essa Antiaye Tetteh, the District Chief Executive (DCE) expressed optimism that with proactive attitude and high-spiritedness of members in the development of their respective electoral areas, success would be achieved in the implementation of the 2016 composite budget.

Members of the assembly called for cost-cutting by the assembly and ensure that funds allocated for various programmes are properly utilized.