ECONOMICS

Efficient structures and technology could improve revenue collection - MCE
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema has hinted on the inefficiencies that exist in the revenue collection system which have resulted in the poor flow of revenue to the Assembly.

Date Created : 6/18/2018 2:30:13 AM : Story Author : GNA


Mr. Felix Mensah Nii Annan-La who is also the Acting Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) says, “The revenue stream in both TMA and TWMA is a problem. We collect less than twenty percent which means that structures aren’t in place. Now that we’ve got softwares and are putting structures in place everything is going to be well.”

He said this on Thursday after the election of a Presiding Member (PM) for the TWMA at the Assembly premises, Batsona, Tema

He informed that even though Tema West was the cash cow of the TMA, seceding it would not collapse the TMA because revenue flow to TMA would still increase if efficient structures and technologies were put in place to ensure that all revenue that should have come to the Assembly would.

He said this efficient revenue collection mechanism would also assist the new municipality in order for it to get the required revenue for its developmental projects.

The newly elected PM of the TWMA, Mr. Kwesi Poku Bosompen, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) also hinted that, “The problem with most assemblies has been revenue generation. I come on board with an extraordinary revenue generation system. I’m going to appeal to my people to set up a revenue collection desk that’ll bring in revenue.”

He said the new municipality had prospects and a bright future because of the crop of Assembly Members present and the fact that he was going to work with three former PMs, among other things.

He debunked the perception that here was a rift between him and the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Mr. Kingsley Ahenkorah since the two were not on good terms by saying that “there’s no problem between us and that Mr. Ahenkorah’s contributions were necessary for the development of the Municipality.”

The election of a PM for the Assembly became necessary because of the creation of the TWMA from the TMA hence the need for a new PM to preside over the activities of the PWMA.

In the first round of voting Mr. Bosompem had nine votes and Patrick Osah-Nyumor Atitiati Larweh had seven votes out of the 16 valid votes cast, and upon consultations among the Assembly Members, Mr. Laweh conceded defeat to Mr. Bosompem making the later the first PM of the TWMA.