Ajumako District Assembly improves revenue generation

The Ajumako – Enyan – Esiam District Assembly has initiated a number of measures to improve upon its capacity to generate internal revenue to accelerate the pace of development in the district and better the living conditions of the people.

The Chairman of the Finance and Administration Sub-Committee of the Assembly, Mr Pius Arpoo-Enyan disclosed this in an interview at Ajumako Entumbil in the Central Region.

Mr Arpoo–Enyan said the measures included the review of the assembly’s rates and fees, introduction of development levy, where one per cent was levied on contracts awarded by the assembly and intensive monitoring of revenue collection with the view of eliminating revenue leakages.

He said because of the measures, the internally generated revenue had increased from a little over GH¢36, 000 in December, 2008 to GH¢153, 807.87 at the end of December, 2011.

The figure, however, dipped in 2012 to GH¢123, 226.99 Mr Arpoo-Enyan stated.  

The chairman said other measures being put in place by the assembly to generate additional revenue included the computerisation of the revenue data base of the assembly for effective monitoring.

Mr Arpoo–Enyan said the assembly had engaged a consultant to identify other outstanding sources of revenue.

It has also completed work on its lockable stores at Ajumako and the construction of markets in some selected towns and strengthened the zonal councils to enable the assembly and the unit committee members to identify sources of revenue in their communities.

He said the Finance and Administration Sub-Committee had made other recommendations which, if implemented, would further improve the internally generated fund of the assembly.

Mr Arpoo–Enyan said the assembly had recorded excellent performance and had since 2009, qualified for the District Development Fund, which had enabled it to undertake a number of projects in the education and road sectors.

By J. K. Essien/Daily Graphic/graphic.com.gh/Ghana