The Presiding Member of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Stephen Akugre has exposed a deep-seated issue plaguing the assembly’s revenue collection process.
Speaking on the Dreamz Breakfast Today program, Mr. Akugre disclosed that some revenue collectors failed to account for a significant portion of the revenue they collect, creating a substantial shortage.
According to Mr. Akugre, a staggering 90% of the revenue collected from market vendors and business firms never reaches the assembly.
This gross mismanagement was uncovered by the finance and administration committee, which he chaired in 2022.
The committee submitted a comprehensive report to the former coordinating director, but the recommendations have been gathering dust ever since.
Mr Akugre lamented that, the lack of accountability among revenue collectors has severely crippled the assembly’s development.
The consequences of this maladministration he said are far-reaching, hindering the assembly’s ability to implement essential projects and provide basic services to the community.
“We were able to identify so many things that the revenue collectors were doing which don’t augur well. It is highly illegal,” he said.
He explained, “If you bring 100 basket, the assembly would charge 50p per basket. But they would not do that. They would remove one ticket, that’s 50p, turn at the back, indicate the number of baskets for the basket owner to pay.
After every market, they have to go back and account for. So what they are doing, the assembly can only hold then accountable for a ticket”.
Mr Akugre stated that, the assembly must take swift action to address these shortcomings and ensure that revenue collectors are held accountable for their actions, and only then can the assembly fulfill its mandate and serve the people of Bolgatanga effectively.
