Out of a projected income of GH345,726.00, the Assin South District Assembly (ASDA) raised a total of GH214,581.76.
“From January to November 2021, the statistics indicate a 38 percent drop in its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) sources at Assin Nsuaem”, the District Chief Executive, Madam Felicia Ntrakwa Amissah, said. She ascribed the income gap to ratepayers’ refusal to pay rates, as well as the repercussions of the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Despite the difficulties, the Assembly has begun to engage stakeholders through community sensitizations in order to persuade ratepayers to make timely payments in order to fund development initiatives. The Assembly also established six Area Councils and dispatched a large number of Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) officials to various villages to collect income.
The Assembly, among other things, enacted these measures in order to dramatically strengthen the income foundation for rapid socioeconomic growth. Drawing attention to other sectors, the DCE said a total of GH¢ 15,104.00 was released by Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) to formalize businesses under the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) in the district.
The intervention culminated in empowering about 103 businesses with various financial services, capacity building, and successfully registering with the Registrar General’s Department through the Business Advisory Centre (BAC). Again, 19 entrepreneurs benefited from a GH 84,928 from the “Nkusuo loan programme” through the Assinman Rural Bank to expand their businesses and to create jobs.
Many others are undergoing free certification of businesses by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana Standard Authority through the Business Advisory Centre, she noted. Similarly, the Assembly disbursed a total of GH¢789,288 to 1048 beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in 16 communities under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development.
In addition, 107 people living with disabilities were assisted through the Disability Common Fund (DCF), while 1,700 indigenes were registered on the National Health Insurance scheme under the Integrated Social Service Delivery Programme (ISSDP).
The DCE elaborated on development in other sectors and called for support from all stakeholders, saying her doors were always open to all to offer their constructive criticism and suggestions for accelerated development.
