The Metropolitan Chief
Executive of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, has expressed worry over the decline in performance of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in revenue collection over
the past three years.
The revenue collection of the
Assembly, according to available records, has been waning from 2009 to 2012 for
which reason the new KMA Boss has called for a critical look at the situation.
He has proposed a ‘new
direction’ to be given to revenue collection of the Assembly in order to
generate more revenue to develop the Metropolis. He further called for a review
of the percentage of monies given to agencies outsourced to collect revenue in
the Assembly. Only about 30% of revenue generated in the Metropolis goes to the
Assembly whiles the remaining 70% goes to revenue mobilization agencies that
have been subcontracted to do the collection.
He said that the Assembly cannot
continue to rely on the central government alone for funds to develop, and
therefore would be introducing strategies and block all loopholes in the system
to beef up revenue collection drive of the Assembly.
Meanwhile, the KMA is revealed to
have been allocated a US$ 4 million Capacity Support Fund (CSF) to engage consultants
to support the Assembly to improve it management capabilities in some areas of
Public Financial Management.
The Fund, said to be part of the
Urban Development Grant (UDG,) falls under the Local Government Capacity
Support Project (LGCSP) which aims to assist urban local governments to strengthen
their managerial competence in Public Financial Management.
The Assembly is also indicated to
be in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Regional
Technical Advisory Team (RTAT) who is facilitating the implementation of the
project.
These were captured as part of
programmes earmarked for implementation at the median sessional address of the
KMA Chief Executive in Kumasi.
Among the major highlights of his address,
Kojo Bonsu pledged to deepen the rebranding process of the Kumasi Metropolis
competitive with international cities like Johannesburg, Boston and London, and
called for the support of all stakeholders to realize this objective.
He hinted to be organizing an
international conference to showcase the business potential of Kumasi, and
through which build a 2000 seater capacity conference center as part of the
process.
The Kumasi Airport which has
witnessed some frequent closure over the past years is also said to be given a
mojor facelift as well as the creation of an Airport City all in anticipation
to increase the revenue base of the Metropolis as well as the Region.
Prominent among the list of
programmes said to be pursued, is the installation of Closed Circuit Television
(CCTV) cameras in the Central Business District (CBD) of the Kumasi Metropolis
to monitor and track criminal activities in the commercial areas and other
flashpoints areas in the Metropolis.
In addition to this, he indicated
to seek support from donor agencies and philanthropist to procure vehicles and
other combat gears for the Police in the Region to fight crime.
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