Amansie East holds first public budget hearing

Kokofu (Ash), May 9, GNA - A public budget forum aimed at creating a platform for the community to make inputs into how funds should be generated and disbursed by the district assembly has been held at Kokofu near Bekwai in the Amansie East district.

The forum, the first of its kind initiated by the assembly, was to ensure transparency and accountability and to offer the community the opportunity to participate in local government decision-making. It was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Government Accountability Improves Trust (GAIT) II programme.

Mr Joe Bio, chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-Committee of the assembly, said certain areas had been earmarked as of prime importance and they included a massive revenue generation drive to help maximise internally generated funds, which is pegged 1.391 billion cedis.

He said strategies adopted to reach the target included beefing up the number of revenue collectors for all the 400 communities in its catchment area.

Other areas to be tackled in the budget is the promotion of quality education, clean and healthy environment, the promotion of economic activities in the district and the enhancement of good governance by strengthening local government's sub-structures such as the unit committees, urban and area councils.

In a quick reaction to a question as to why the assembly gives small amounts of loans to local small-scale entrepreneurs, Mr Richard Aboagye, the District Chief Executive, said the poverty alleviation fund was aimed at promoting gainful employment and productivity and that the amount would increase if beneficiaries made prompt repayment. Nana Mintah Afari Bowak, Presiding Member of the Assembly, called on the people to offer useful suggestions to move the assembly forward in its revenue collection drive to facilitate developmental projects in the district.