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ECONOMICS

Dormaa Assembly seeks ways to increase revenue

The Dormaa Municipal Assembly in Brong-Ahafo bagged GH¢131,250.58 at the end of September, representing 48.82 percent of the 2009 internally generated revenue target of GH¢266,785.12.

Date Created : 10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : GNA

During the same period, the assembly incurred a total expenditure of GH¢125,264.17 representing 46.83 percent of the estimated target of GH¢ 268,135.82.

Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Municipal Chief Executive, announced this at the ordinary general assembly meeting in Dormaa-Ahenkro.

He noted that the assembly did not have revenue collectors in more than 50 communities and that was a major contributory factor to the abysmal performance of the revenue mobilization.

Mr. Asamoah implored the assembly members to come out with suggestions and proposals to help improve revenue generation.

He explained that most of the needs of the people centred on the provision of electricity, potable water, access roads, educational infrastructure and sanitation facilities.

The MCE called on the assembly members to help recruit commission collectors in areas where there were no revenue collectors so that the assembly could generate the needed revenue to alleviate the plight of the people.

Mr. Asamoah disclosed that for the past nine months the assembly had received only the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 of the district assembly\'s common fund, which amounted to more than GHC 281,289.26.

He reminded the assembly members that the quantum of a district assemblys common fund depended on the revenue that the assembly mobilized and urged them to redouble efforts to enhance revenue generation.

Mr. Asamoah noted that the Municipality had enjoyed relative peace during the period under review and commended the Municipal Security Committee for its efforts.

The committee was up and doing in taking appropriate actions during meetings to bust potential threat to peace in the municipality, he said.

The MCE said the Assembly had stationed Police Personnel at vantage points to protect cocoa beans transported to other districts without the district's seal.

Mr. Asamoah expressed worry about the outbreak of capsid disease that was devastating large cocoa farms in some parts of the Municipality and announced the assembly was collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to obtain chemicals to spray cocoa farms.

He said that a taskforce comprising the Police, representatives of cocoa buying agencies, quality control, Dormaa Traditional Council and the

Municipal Assembly had been formed to ensure that cocoa produced in the area was weighed and sealed before their transportation to other parts of the country.

The measure is to enable us to know the tonnage produced in the two districts (Dormaa Municipal and Dormaa West),\" Mr. Asamoah explained.

He said a performance assessment of the assembly was conducted in 2006 and for meeting the basic criteria of the assessment, the municipal assembly had been granted District Development Fund (DAF) facility amounting to GHÂ¢ 269,741.78.

Mr. Asamoah said the amount would be used to execute projects such as the rehabilitation of the Dormaa old market, construction of toilets at SM-Dormaa and the rehabilitation of Diabaa Primary and Junior High School.

Other projects are the cladding of schools at Kwakuanya, Bredi Akotokrom, Nkwantasso, Kwasikumikrom, Yawkrom and Yaakrom as well as the rehabilitation of boreholes in 30 selected communities.

Mr. Asamoah appealed to the assembly members to unite and initiate projects that would benefit the people.