Accra, June 1, GNA 96 The Central Government has paid about 80 billion cedis, representing ceded revenue it collected on behalf of District Assemblies from January 1997 to September 2004, through the Ministry of Local Government for onward transfer to the Assemblies, leaving an outstanding balance of about six billion cedis as at the end of December 2004.

Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said these in Parliament in response to a question on how much and the last time ceded revenue collected on behalf of the Districts Assemblies by the Central Government was paid to them. The Deputy Minister said ceded revenue was a type of tax collected by the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of the Districts and they included taxes paid by business people such as chemical sellers; tailors and dressmakers; chop bar operators and garage owners. He said the last time ceded revenue was paid was in May 2005, however, prior to this date similar payment was made in February of the same year.

"Mr Speaker, these bring the total ceded revenue so far paid to the Districts to 79,745,967,418 cedis leaving an outstanding balance of 6,219,247,340 cedis as at the end December 2004." Prof Gyan-Baffour in response to a question on the status of various procurement entities to be established under the Public Procurement Act, said there were four levels of procurement entities made of up Entity Tender Committees; District Tender Review Boards (Ministries and Regional Co-ordinating Councils); Tender Review Boards and the Central Tender Review Board.

He said the total Entity Tender Committees made up of organisations including hospitals, tertiary institutions and the Ministries were 1,248 entities.

He said 700 Tender committees out of the 1,248 have been formed and out of the 26 Ministries, 25 had established Review Boards, while the Central Review Board had also been formed.