Agona East Assembly forms revenue collection taskforce

The Agona East District Assembly has stepped up efforts to increase its internally generated funds (IGF) by forming a revenue collection taskforce with the mandate to help to improve the financial position of the Assembly.

Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agona East made this known at the meeting of the Assembly at Nsaba.

He said the essence of forming the taskforce was to track down all revenue defaulters to collect the monies owed the Assembly for it to undertake more development projects to raise the living standards of the people.

The Assembly has begun the distribution of demand notices to its clients to settle their indebtedness, urging Assembly members to create awareness for the defaulters to appreciate the need to pay rates and fees to the Assembly.

“I wish to appeal to Assembly Members to assist the Assembly in the awareness creation in your Electoral Areas and to support revenue collectors operating in your respective areas.”

Mr. Armah-Frempong said the Assembly received support from the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Government of Netherlands under the Tax Revenue for Economic Enhancement (TREE) project to improve its IGF.

Computers with a software known as “Tax Man Software” have been installed and data collection has begun in Areas including; Agona Kwansakrom and Kotokoli Zongo.

The DCE stated that the project team was in the process of generating electronic demand notices for distribution to the clients who owed the Assembly to simplify revenue collection.

“I must say that 20 percent of the property rate generated will be released to the Area councils to implement an electoral area small project to enhance the wellbeing of the people”.

On education, the DCE stated that the Assembly has released funds to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to organise Mock examination for 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He said 1,000 dual desks were distributed to basic schools as part of the government efforts to improve quality teaching and learning in the district.

The DCE, therefore, appealed to the parents and stakeholders in the educational sector to come together to find lasting solutions to the fallen standards of education at the basic level.

Mr. Kofi Mends, Agona East Director of Ghana Health Service praised the Assembly for the construction of a modern Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds which were a disability- friendly in three communities in the District.

He said the beneficiary communities included; Fante Bawjiase, Mankrong-Nkwanta, Somanye and Namawura which had reached various stages of completion.

Mr Mends reiterated calls on the Central Government to speed up the upgrading of Nsaba Health Centre to full District hospital to reduce referral of emergency cases to Winneba, Agona Swedru and Breman Asikuma hospitals.

Nana Kwao Ponsi II, Adontene of Agona Asafo and Presiding Member(PM) of Agona East District Assembly praised government and management of the Assembly for the prompt action taken on the provision of motorbikes to members of the Assembly.

He commended the Assembly Members for their cooperation and understanding that had brought significant improvement in the District and added that the Assembly could not rely solely on the Common Fund and external donors at all time.

The people must honour their tax obligations and pay their tolls and bills to generate enough funds whilst communities undertake self-helped development projects to better their lot, the PM added.