The Municipal Chief Executive of the LA Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly has urged assembly members to actively contribute to achieving the assembly’s internal revenue targets to strengthen developmental projects in the municipality.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing internally generated revenues to supplement the District Assembly Common Fund.
Speaking During the Municipal Assembly General Meeting, Solomon Kotey Nikoi, the Chief Executive of the Assembly, underscored the necessity for assembly members to ensure the proper collection of internally generated funds, particularly property rates, following the government’s decision to return the property tax collection to local assemblies.
According to Mr Nikoi, the internally generated fund is crucial for the development of the assembly, as it is something they have control over.
He explained that the assembly members are responsible for collecting funds from businesses and properties within their respective electoral areas.
Nikoi also mentioned that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had assisted the assemblies in collecting property rates last year, but due to performance issues, the responsibility has now been returned to the assembly.
While their systems were sound, Mr Nikoi believes more time is needed to refine them and develop effective strategies.
He said, “When it comes to funds for development in the Assembly, the one that we have control over is the internally generated fund. And the internally generated fund, this municipality, we have 10 electoral areas and all the assembly members control the electoral areas.
“So the businesses and the properties that we will raise the idea from, they are within the electoral areas so we need the support from the assembly members to be able to mobilize these monies. Last year, GRA stepped in to assist the assembles collect property rates.
“When you listen to them and look at the programmes and systems, there are very good systems but it looks like we have to take time and build up on the system and the strategies we are bringing on board.
“So last year, they couldn’t perform well so they said let us give back to the assembly with the collection of the property rate so that they will go back and re-strategise and come back, so now it has been given to the assembly.”
