District assemblies urged to strengthen revenue generation efforts

The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Alhaji Mohammed Kwaku Doku, has urged district assemblies to strengthen their revenue generation efforts in order to meet the challenges of the time.

He said the assemblies must not sit down for the old order to hold sway when it was clear that times had changed and they could no longer rely on the central government alone for funding.

The NALAG President, who was elected to the position on June 26, this year, stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday. 

Suggesting ways of improving the internally generated funds, Alhaji Doku said one of them was to widen the tax net to include the many informal sectors that had been left free over the years.

The assemblies’ bye-laws on prosecuting tax defaulters should also be activated to serve as a deterrent to those who would conceive the idea to invade tax.

Alhaji Doku, who is also the Municipal Chief Executive for Asunafo North in the Brong Ahafo Region, said when the assemblies improved internal revenue generation, it would enable them  to speed up their development projects.

He appealed to the assembly members to assist the revenue collectors in their areas in their activities, in order to generate more funds to execute development projects that had come to a standstill because of inadequate financing.

He said the economic challenges facing the country had put enormous pressure on the government's budget so everything must be done by the assemblies to mobilise more resources internally to complement what would come from the District Assemblies Common Fund.

Vision

He gave an assurance that he would move quickly to build a vibrant organisation which would contribute positively to strengthen the local government system and national development. 

Concerning some of his immediate plans, he said he would move quickly to decentralise the activities of NALAG.

In that respect, regional offices would be established by the end of this year after which district offices would be put in place.

Alhaji Doku said the national executive would also undertake regional tours to interact with members and whip up their enthusiasm in the activities of the organisation.

He further disclosed that a local government week would soon be introduced, where awards would be given to deserving workers.

The NALAG president  said advocacy would also be tackled while investment would be pursued to make the organisation financially strong.