Offinso Municipal Assembly has GH¢560,000 debt to service

Offinso (Ash), Aug. 5, GNA - The Offinso South Municipal Assembly last year received GH¢196,829 out of its expected District Assemblies Common Fund share of GH¢890,444.

This has put the assembly in a difficult financial position and it could hardly carry through with its programmes. Mr Victor Amponsah, the Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly's debt stock stood at GH¢560,000. Addressing an ordinary meeting of the Assembly at Offinso, he said the assembly was expecting to receive GH¢1,489.5 million as their share of the Fund in 2009.

He said he was not happy with past delays in the release of the Fund that is the major source of finance for the assembly's development projects. . Mr Amponsah mentioned the construction of a ward for the Urology Centre at Nyankaso and the relocation of Abofour and Anyinasuso markets as the major development activities the assembly had planned to undertake this year.

Mr. Amponsah told the meeting that GH¢1,957 million was collected as against a revenue target of GH¢2,257 million. "There is the need for a critical review of rates and levies to ensure payment of realistic tariffs at all levels to increase revenue mobilization to support development", he said. 05 Aug 09