Kassena Nankana West DCE begins district-wide stakeholder engagement and streetlight distribution
The engagement is aimed at bringing governance at the assembly level closer to residents, soliciting their opinions, and encouraging them to contribute to district development through the payment of taxes.
The District Chief Executive for the Kassena Nankana West District, Stephen Aeke Akurugo, has begun a district-wide stakeholder engagement and distribution of streetlight bulbs to communities within the district.
The engagement is aimed at bringing governance at the assembly level closer to residents, soliciting their opinions, and encouraging them to contribute to district development through the payment of taxes.
The DCE, together with the District Coordinating Director, Mohammed Issaka, and the staff of the assembly, began the engagement on Tuesday, February 17, in the Mirigu community.
The team first paid a courtesy call on the Mirigu Traditional Council, calling for collaborative efforts with traditional authorities to improve revenue generation in the community. The DCE also engaged traders at the Sirigu market and youth leaders in the area.
He concluded the day’s visit with an interaction with health officials at the Mirigu CHIPS compound, where he encouraged health workers to fully implement the government’s health initiatives and received first-hand information on challenges faced by the facility. He also engaged students and teachers of the Mirigu Senior High School, urging students to focus on their academics and warning against violent riots on campus and drug abuse.
Speaking at the Mirigu Chief’s Palace in Mirigu, the DCE noted that the engagement should help communities understand and support the assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF).
“Our traditional leadership is not concerned with revenue collections in the market, that’s why we are doing this engagement for our chiefs to be concerned about revenue collection.”
He added that central government funds alone cannot meet all the development needs of the Mirigu community.
“The needs of Mirigu are many, the funds from the central government alone cannot solve all our needs, the way our internal revenue inflows are coming is not good.”
The Secretary to the Chief of Mirigu, Naba Anthony Anansona Abisa Atasige III, acknowledged the low revenue generation from the Mirigu market and pledged his support to improve collections. He, however, linked the low revenue to the poor road network and insecurity on the major road linking Mirigu to Navrongo.
“Our roads are not safe, we have armed robbery attacks, our roads too are not well-graveled affecting traders from coming to our markets.”
During his engagement with traders at the market, the DCE inspected traders’ tickets for revenue tax payment and educated them on the importance of paying taxes. He also presented two streetlights to the market and the youth leadership.
At the Mirigu CHIPS compound, the DCE assured staff of the completion of a maternity block currently under construction. He addressed concerns raised by health workers, including the lack of furniture and cleaners at the facility, and presented two streetlight bulbs to the CHIPS compound.
Addressing students of the Mirigu Senior High School, Akurugo assured them of the government’s commitment to completing stalled projects in the school and urged them to remain focused on their academics, while warning against violent rioting and drug abuse. He also presented four streetlights to the school authorities.
“We know your infrastructure challenges, the government will work on addressing that, but as students you have to study hard, that is the basic thing you need to do.”
The DCE is expected to continue the engagement with other communities across the district in the coming days.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
