The Gomoa West District Chief Executive, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, has expressed concern about the poor revenue generated in the assembly, and appealed to members to get actively involved.

Addressing the second ordinary meeting of the assembly at Apam on Tuesday, Mr Aidoo-Mensah said the assembly had, as at September 30, 2013, collected only GH¢130,982.74 out of the estimated revenue of GH¢266,863.60, representing 49.08 per cent, a shortage of GH¢69,164.96.

He attributed the poor performance of the assembly in revenue collection to lack of qualified revenue collectors, inadequate public education on the need for people to pay taxes and levies, non-functioning of some of the area/town councils and lack of data on buildings for owners to pay property rates.

He said the insincerity of some revenue collectors who pocketed some monies collected, as well as food items and drinks from traders also contributed to the poor performance.

The DCE said in order to increase revenue from the assembly’s traditional sources, it had adopted measures including sending revenue collectors from Apam and Mumford to Dawurampong on market days to assist in the collection, in addition to the employment of five guards to assist the collectors.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah said the assembly had also adopted strategies to plug some of the loopholes in revenue generation.

He said the strategies would include strict supervision of collectors, public education, prosecution of rate defaulters, formation of revenue task forces and the operationalisation of town/area councils.

The DCE appealed to assembly members, chiefs and opinion leaders to join the crusade to educate the people on the need to meet their tax obligations promptly.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah reminded the assembly members of the important role internally generated funds (IGFs) played in the allocation of the District Assembly’s Common Fund, saying; “the higher the IGF you collect, the higher common fund you get.”

He said under the International Development Agency (IDA) Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project, 10 boreholes with hand-pumps were being constructed in 10 communities in the district at an estimated cost of GH¢121,874.80.