Accra: Mr Profer Francis Dusey, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Ho West District Assembly, has refuted allegations that the district's declining revenue mobilisation is a result of deteriorating relations between the Assembly and the Dzolo community. These allegations reportedly emerged following the unfortunate incident of a young man's death during a revenue mobilisation exercise some years ago.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Dusey, in an interview, acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the incident but emphasized that it has not negatively impacted the cordial relationship between the Assembly and the residents. He explained that the primary reason for the district's low Internally Generated Fund (IGF) is the limited revenue sources available, rather than any lack of cooperation from the residents.
Mr Dusey highlighted the disparity between the Ho West District and more urbanised areas like the Ho Municipality, which boasts numerous banks, hotels, and commercial establishments contributing significantly to property rates. In contrast, Ho West District has a limited number of guest houses, filling stations, and one rural bank, which restricts its revenue base.
Additionally, Mr Dusey pointed out the absence of major commercial institutions and private investments as a factor limiting revenue generation. He also identified the lack of comprehensive property data as a major challenge in effective revenue collection, noting that the available data is insufficient and hampers the process.
To address these challenges, Mr Dusey revealed that the Assembly is in talks with Ominist Strategies, a private firm, to implement a technology-driven system for property rate and advertisement revenue collection. The partnership is expected to provide reliable data on properties and businesses, thereby improving revenue administration.
The DCE also mentioned ongoing community sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating residents on the importance of paying property and basic rates, ensuring that the approach remains respectful and non-confrontational. Furthermore, the Assembly is compiling data on government employees within the district to facilitate basic rate deductions through the Controller and Accountant-General's Department.
Addressing calls to divide the Ho West district, Mr Dusey cautioned against such moves, warning that splitting the district could exacerbate financial challenges due to dependency on internally generated funds. Instead, he suggested creating more constituencies within the existing district structure to enhance administrative efficiency.