Berekum (B/A), June 9, GNA - Mr. Stephen Lord Oppong, Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has lamented over poor revenue collection by the assembly and called for more prudent measures to improve the situation.

The MCE said that out of the targeted revenue of GH C259, 955 for this year, as at April 30, GH C67, 121.21 had been collected, representing 25.8 per cent of the target. Mr. Oppong, who was outlining the assembly's development strategy at its second ordinary meeting at Berekum, said the development did not paint a bright picture about the assembly's capacity to mobilize funds. He said the assembly's development strategy would include planned consultations with recognized traditional, religious, social and economic groupings and the compilation of relevant information on education, agriculture, electrification, sanitation and other sectors. On the District Assemblies Common Fund, Mr Oppong said that the government had released GH C1, 344,351.69 to the assembly and it received guidelines for the utilization and disbursement of the money. He expressed concern about the lack of maintenance culture resulting in the deplorable state of the old community centre and court building and other structures of the assembly. Mr. Oppong said he was disappointed at disregard for planning standards resulting in haphazard way of putting up of structures in the municipality. He said government was committed to infusing fiscal discipline into revenue and expenditure patterns "not only to maximize national revenue but to expend in a more prudent way and ensure value for money with the view to optimizing development objectives within the context of local and global constraints".

Mr. Oppong urged the people to bury their political differences and support the municipality for the development of the area. "It's the NDC government's development agenda and promise that the country be administered devoid of greed and avarice, in an environment where the common interest of the entire society will take premium over the parochial and pecuniary interest of a few individuals and groups to the detriment of the larger populace", the MCE stated. He praised President John Evans Atta Mills for nominating him as MCE and the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo and the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku, as well as the executives of Berekum branch of the NDC for their support. 9 June 09