Accra: The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region has acquired a brand-new Changan Hunter pickup vehicle to strengthen the operations of its Works and Physical Planning Department and improve revenue mobilisation efforts within the municipality.
According to Ghana Web, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Lower Manya Krobo, John Atter Matey, officially handed over the vehicle at the Assembly premises in the presence of the Municipal Director, heads of department, Assembly staff, and other officials. The vehicle was procured through the Assembly's Internally Generated Fund (IGF), which Matey described as part of a broader strategy to bolster local revenue mobilisation and allocate resources to impactful development projects.
Matey highlighted that previous administrations primarily used the IGF for smaller-scale interventions. However, his administration aims to invest in projects and logistics that will enhance productivity, service delivery, and long-term development within the municipality. "Today, we have used our Internally Generated Fund to purchase a brand-new pickup to enhance revenue mobilisation. Under the previous NPP administration, the IGF was used for small projects, but under my watch, we want to use it for bigger projects for Lower Manya Krobo," Matey stated.
The Assembly Chief noted his personal involvement in the revenue mobilisation exercise and encouraged Assembly staff to intensify efforts to improve the municipality's revenue base. He expressed optimism that the new vehicle would facilitate monitoring, supervision, and field operations by the Works and Physical Planning Department while also supporting revenue collection activities across communities within the municipality.
Matey also announced plans to acquire an additional vehicle in the near future to support the Assembly's work and improve operational efficiency. "We shall purchase another one to make our work easier and use the proceeds for more development. I thank my staff for the support in ensuring that this has been achieved," he added.
The acquisition comes at a time when many Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana face increasing pressure to enhance internally generated revenue to support local development, amid delays and shortfalls in central government transfers. Local assemblies across the country have encountered significant challenges in revenue mobilisation, including inadequate logistics, weak data systems, poor tracking of economic activities, limited public compliance, and insufficient taxpayer education.
Studies on Ghana's decentralisation system have shown that many assemblies remain heavily dependent on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), with some districts relying on central government transfers for the majority of their revenue. To address these concerns, the government has introduced measures aimed at strengthening fiscal decentralisation and improving direct funding to local authorities.
In 2025, the government announced a policy to ensure that 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund would be disbursed directly to MMDAs to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve project execution at the local level. Despite challenges, some assemblies have recorded gains in local revenue mobilisation. Officials believe that investments in logistics, technology, and staff mobilisation, such as the procurement of operational vehicles, remain critical to improving the efficiency of local governance and accelerating development at the district level.