Agona Swedru, March 30, GNA - The Agona West Municipal Assembly has put in place measures to clamp down drivers who refuse to load at lorry parks in its efforts to improve on revenue generation. As part of the exercise, check points would be mounted at the four routes to the Municipality to check drivers who refuse to pay tolls.

Mr Thomas Kwesi Asante, Presiding Member of the Assembly, said this at the launch of the Urban Poverty Reduction Project (UPRP) Revenue Mobilization under the Social Investment Fund (SIF) at Agona Swedru. He said recalcitrant drivers would be prosecuted while revenue collectors would be motivated to give of their best.

The Presiding Member said research conducted by the Assembly revealed that more than 45 percent of the drivers operating in the Municipality were not paying tolls to the Assembly because they were not loading at the lorry stations. He warned drivers who do not belong to unions to do so without delay or be prepared to face the consequences. "The Assembly cannot continue to rely on the Common Fund.there is the need to improve revenue mobilization to undertake development projects." He said 50 revenue volunteers recruited by the Assembly had been sworn into Office and would soon embark on a house to house revenue collection.

Mrs Elizabeth Abena Nkrumah, Western and Central Coordinator of the Social Investment Fund, stressed that revenue mobilization formed part of the solid foundation needed for executing development projects. She urged the people, especially traders and other business executives in Agona West, to endeavour to pay taxes regularly. The government cannot always rely on the International Monitory Fund and World Bank loans, she stated, and urged the people to honour their tax obligations.

Nana Ogyabea Badu Ehuren, the Sanaahene of Swedruman Council of Chiefs, urged the revenue volunteers not to politicize their work but discharge their duties efficiently towards increased revenue mobilization.