Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly fails to meet revenue target

The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KOKMA) has not been able to meet its budget projections of about GH¢9.6 million for this year to implement development projects.

Out of a projection of GH¢9,586,700 by the assembly, the actual amount realised as of now is GH¢5,282,190, representing 55 per cent of the total budget.

The revenue shortfall is largely attributed to the failure of the central government to release about GH¢3.2 million of KOKMA's allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for 2019.

The assembly received GH¢837,601 out of the expected GH¢4 million, representing 20 per cent of the entire DACF allocation.

This came to light at the Meet the Press series organised by KOKMA in Accra yesterday.

Ingenuity

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of KOKMA, Mr Samuel Nii Adiei Tawiah, said the delay in releasing the remaining 80 per cent of the DACF allocation had affected the implementation of projects, and as such the assembly had resorted to alternative means to support its business.

“It is true that the delay in releasing the DACF to all assemblies is affecting project implementation but we are looking at alternative funding sources, including public private partnerships (PPPs) to carry out development projects,” he said.

He said the assembly had also leveraged on viable IGF sources which accounted for considerable success in meeting revenue mobilisation locally.

IGF

A presentation made by the Planning Officer of KOKMA, Mr Alex Amoah, showed that the assembly performed well by raking in about GH¢4,109, 386 out of the estimated GH¢5,036,700, representing 81 per cent of its IGF projections,

The assembly raked in GH¢1,167,693 from fees and fines in excess of the projected GH¢915,000

Mr Tawiah attributed the overwhelming success in fees and fines component of IGF to unlawful activities such as blocking of principal streets, putting up of unauthorised structures and flouting of sanitation laws.

The assembly also projected to collect GH¢2,300,000 as property tax but managed to collect GH¢1,706,803 while GH¢698,730 was realised from licences even though the projected figure was GH¢1,391,700.

Rent recorded the lowest IGF revenue of GH¢14,336 out of the estimated GH¢30,000.

Projects

Mr Tawiah said the assembly had plans to redevelop markets and some transport terminals such as the Odawna, Adabraka and the pedestrian shopping mall and Tema station to reduce hawking and congestion within the municipality.

He said the move was also meant to address the issue of inadequate space for trading and to enhance mobility within the trading centres.

Touching on flooding, the KOKMA MCE added that 600-metre and 300-metre storm drains were being constructed in flood-prone areas in the municipality to reduce flooding, especially at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and Odawna.

On Sanitation, he said they were working with private waste management providers to ensure the collection of waste and the sweeping of principal streets.

Touching on some efforts made in terms of infrastructure development, he said the assembly was at an advanced stage of awarding the contract for a fish market at Osu, a 20-seater water closet, a 3-storey administration block with information and communication technology (ICT) and library facility to be constructed at Kinbu Senior High School.

He added that the blocking of principal roads in some parts of the municipality was a great nuisance and would be tackled with the effort it deserved.

In terms of crime he explained that although the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) was doing a great job to ensure safety in the municipality, he encouraged the public to report to the police people of suspicious characters in their neighbourhoods.