Sandema (UE/R), July 7, GNA - The Builsa District Assembly in the Upper East Region, was at the close of May this year, mobilized a total revenue of 172.2 million cedis, as against an annual target of 453.6 million cedis, representing 38 per cent of the target. The recurrent expenditure for the same period stood at 155.5 million cedis.

The Builsa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Thomas Kofi Alonsi, made these disclosures at the Assembly's second ordinary meeting at Sandema on Thursday.

He attributed the abysmal performance of the internally generated revenue to inadequate sensitisation of the people on the need to pay taxes and inadequate capacity of revenue collectors to perform efficiently.

He explained that as part of measures to address the situation, the Executive Committee of the Assembly had recommended the intensification of education on the need for tax payment, using all the appropriate channels including the media, and to further train the revenue collectors.

Mr Alonsi said the Executive Committee had also recommended the procurement of a new revenue collection vehicle to replace the existing pick-up, which had become unserviceable. The Secretariat of the district assembly, he noted, had therefore placed an order for the supply of a Toyota Hilux from the Toyota Ghana Company to boost tax collection in the district. The DCE announced that plans were far advanced to erect a revenue checkpoint at Chuchuliga, near Sandema to check revenue leakage from the Builsa district to the Kassena-Nankana District. Mentioning some of the projects the assembly had undertaken between May 2005 and 2006, the DCE said the assembly had been able to extend its conference hall, renovate the administration block and the DCE's residence. He indicated that under the HIPC projects, the assembly had received an amount of 360 million cedis, which was currently being used for the construction a 3-unit classroom block at Kpalinsa, near Wiaga.

Mr Alonsi said the HIPC secretariat also credited the two constituencies in the district with 200 million cedis each. According to the DCE, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Builsa South Constituency, Mr Abolimbisa Roger Akantagriwen, had decided to use his share of the HIPC Fund to initiate the construction of a 3-unit classroom block for the Tuedema community in the district, whilst Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, MP for Builsa North had also used part of her fund to purchase 10 second-hand computers for schools in the area. The DCE also indicated that under the District Wide Assisted Project, (DWAP) the assembly had received an amount of 800 million cedis, which would be used for the construction of 3-unit classroom blocks for the Nyaansa Primary School at Sandema and Saint Martin's Junior Secondary School.

Mr Alonsi commended departmental heads in the district for giving him the necessary support for the effective execution of his duties and appealed to them to continue with the support. He, however, indicated that his administration would not countenance acts of insubordination exhibited by some workers in the discharge of their duties, and said it was incumbent on every worker in the district to work assiduously for accelerated development. 7 July 06