By: Fred Yaw
Sarpong
Total
revenue of the 30 district assemblies in the Ashanti Region witnessed
appreciable rise over four year period, increasing from GH¢94,996,260.54 in
2012 to GH¢124,267,878.09 in 2013 and to GH¢159,292,965.70 in 2014.
Hon. Collins Dauda, Local Government Minister
This
comprised of Internally Generated Funds (IGFs), Common Fund allocations,
Government Grants and Donor funds and it represented nearly 70% revenue growth
over the three year period.
This
was contained in the Auditor-General’s report on the accounts of District
Assemblies for financial year ended 31 December 2014.
All
the 30 assemblies in the region prepared and submitted their financial
statements for audit validation in compliance with Part VII Sections 77 and 78
of the Financial Memoranda for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies
(MMDAs).
According
to the report, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) alone accounted for 34%
of the revenue collected in the region while Asante Akim North recorded the
least revenue of GH¢1,901,770.74.
“Three
assemblies recorded a drop in their total revenue over their 2013 figures. The
Assemblies were Adansi North, Asante Akim South and Offinso South with their
revenues decreasing by GH¢415,779.58, GH¢159,710.56 and GH¢123,274.77
respectively,” the report stated.
Meanwhile,
total IGF for the 30 assemblies also increased from GH¢23,062,118.80 in 2012 to
GH¢25,004,155.74 in 2013 and to GH¢35,456,733.18 in 2014. The highest IGF
recipient was the Kumasi Metro in the sum of GH¢20,124,918.25 accounting for
57% of the regional total.
Other
assemblies with comparatively high IGF figures for 2014 were Obuasi
(GH¢2,431,771.15) followed by Ejisu Juaben (GH¢1,350,249.16). “The three
Assemblies with the lowest IGF collection for the 2013-2014 periods were
Sekyere Affram Plains, Bosome Freho and Asante Akim South,” Daily Express
learnt.
The
report said Ahafo Ano North, Asante Akim South and Bekwai Assemblies recorded
decreases in their IGF collection dropping by GH¢5,776.96, GH¢17,484.52 and
GH¢510,094.77 respectively over their 2013 collections.
On
operational results, Auditor General said the 30 assemblies incurred a total
expenditure of GH¢145,079,232.46 out of their total revenue of GH¢159,292,965.70,
resulting in a surplus of GH¢14,213,733.24.
“In
all, eight assemblies overspent their revenue for the year, with Offinso
Municipal (GH¢179,958.81) recording the highest deficit, followed by Asante
Akim North (GH¢165,660.54), Mampong (GH¢145,961.69) and Bekwai (GH¢123,597.47)
Assemblies.
The
30 assemblies reported cash and bank balances totaling GH¢24,171,814.11. Kumasi
Metro and Obuasi had the highest cash resources of GH¢14,017,801.03 and
GH¢1,950,855.02 respectively, while Asante Akim North (GH¢11,539.72) and Sekyere
South (GH¢16,881.21) reported overdrawn balances.
However,
16 assemblies reported GH¢1,800,268.04 as their total value of investment, with
GH¢1,220,373.90 of the amount representing fixed deposit and GH¢501,636.29 as
unrecovered Poverty Alleviation Fund loan balances.
The
report indicated that 22 assemblies were owed a total of GH¢191,669.42 in
unpaid loans and advances as at the end of the year. “Seven Assemblies had unchanged
receivables as at 31 December 2013 and 2014 suggesting nil recoveries from
their debtors.”
The
Auditor-General urged the managements to recover the amounts from the
defaulters or the officials whose inaction occasioned non-recovery.
The
seven assemblies were Adansi North (GH¢2,485.00), Adansi South (GH¢1,450.00),
Ahafo Ano South (GH¢2,110.00), Atwima Kwanwoma (GH¢1,785.00), Bekwai
(GH¢909.01), Offinso South (GH¢2,700.00) and Sekyere East (GH¢6,150.98).
The
Auditor-General discovered that a total creditors in the books of 23 assemblies
totaled GH¢2,630,622.17 with three assemblies carrying unchanged creditors as
at the end of 2012, 2013 and 2014.
These
were Asante Akim Central with GH¢4,433.88, Bekwai with GH¢12,285.38 and Offinso
South with GH¢19,317.29.
Comments
Post a Comment