Governance expert urges increased revenue mobilisation

A lecturer at the Institute of local Government Studies, Legon, Mr Felix Amakye, has urged members of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies (MMDAs) to be active participants in revenue mobilisation, generation and community action planning programmes.

That, he said, would enable them to be aims-want with how funds were generated and used for the development of their communities.

Mr Amakye was addressing members of the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA) and Awutu Senya District Assembly (ASDA) at separate capacity-training fora on revenue mobilisation and community action planning at Ofaakor at Kasoa and Awutu Beraku both in the Central Region.

The forum formed part of a series of capacity-training programmes organised by intervention Forum (IF), a non-governmental organisation, under its Voice for Change Project (V4CP) intended to empower citizens to be active participants in the development of their communities.

It brought together key officials of the two assemblies, assembly members, zonal and unit committee members, traditional authorities, religious leaders, civil society and community-based organisations.

Speaking on Revenue Mobilisation and Community Action Planning, Mr Amakye said it was incumbent on duty bearers to explain to their assembly members and other stakeholders, especially at general assembly and town hall meetings, all issues affecting the development of the communities.

Importance of revenue

Outlining the importance of revenue in service delivery, he said the assemblies needed it to finance development projects ,pay allowances and salaries of assembly staff, sitting allowances, maintenance costs and the running of official vehicles.

GNA