‘Create data system for revenue collection’

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has underscored the need for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to get a comprehensive data system to aid in the collection of revenue.

He said the collection of taxes from people with the assembly could only work well when there was a comprehensive data of people legible to pay tax in the communities.

"You can only improve on revenue collection when you have accurate information on the taxable people because when these revenues are collected, they can be used for pressing issues if external funds have not been provided," he said.

Addressing metropolitan, municipal and district assembly officers during a working visit to the Central Region last Tuesday, Mr Nyarko stressed on the need for the officers to properly utilise their internally generated funds (IGFs).

Internally Generated Fund

He said when those funds were used for development purposes within the communities; people would be encouraged to pay their taxes.

"Spend money on capital developments in the district. Use the internally generated funds to take up projects that will encourage the taxpayers to pay tax because when they see development projects they will pay their taxes," he said.

Government bungalows

The Chairman, who is also the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, advised MMDAs to set up systems to guarantee that public servants who live in assembly bungalows paid their rent.

"Government property is not for free; it needs to be maintained, and the rents collected should be used for maintenance so the houses would always be in good condition," he added.

Public toilets

A Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodio Constituency, Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, said MMDAs should privatise assembly owned public toilets.

He said that move would help tackle the menace of political party miscreants taking over the facilities without paying anything to the assemblies.

DCE

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Mrs Aba Hagan, said the assembly was committed to improving the poor IGF situation.

She said plans were underway to implement strategies that would reduce the over-reliance on external funds.

"The 2018 fiscal year revenue improvement action plan has been assessed and action is underway to implement these strategies," she affirmed.