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Stakeholders dialogue on domestic revenue mobilization at Shama
Friends of the Nation (FON) in collaboration with the Shama District Assembly recently organised a stakeholders’ engagement on tax dialogue and validation of the 2021 Annual Progress Report (APR) of the Assembly.
The meeting which was attended by taxpayers including market women, artisans, farmers, representatives from Shama Traditional Council and departmental heads, was part of measures to boost domestic revenue mobilisation in the Shama District of the Western Region.
Opening the workshop, the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator of FON, Nana Efua Ewur, explained that the programme was aimed at accounting to the citizenry on activities implemented in 2021 and also discuss the way forward for resource mobilisation in 2022.
The District Planning Officer, Alhaji Abu Mahama, also told the participants that the engagement was to showcase the assembly’s technical and financial report for stakeholders to make inputs before it was forwarded to Accra.
He said that the district assembly was working harder to become a model district in Ghana and that in 2021, out of 64 planned projects, 59 were executed, saying that, “not all have been completed.”
The Budget Officer of the Shama District Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Nana Yartel, reported that, many people still had some misconceptions about the assembly’s revenue mobilisation management.
It was for this reason that, the assembly with support from FON, for the past years, had been engaging stakeholders on tax dialogue in so many ways to deepen citizens’ participation and understanding in domestic financing at Shama.
Mr Yartel said “The purpose of taxation is to fund public goods and services, undertake public infrastructure, for example, schools and markets, stabilise the economy and also redistribute income. Again, the basis for charges are also to deter quacks and incompetent persons from operating and also to register businesses.”
Speaking on the expenditure pattern of the assembly, he indicated that, there had been gradual increment of the assembly’s internally generated fund (IGF), explaining that, the successes were due to the assembly’s engagement with taxpayers and stakeholders.
“Currently we have a database of tax payers and still updating it. We need to widen the net of our internally generated fund (IGF) and let people in the district be aware about how funds are utilised.
“The assembly will continue to strengthen its tax payer services and tax expenditure on the dashboard to ensure accountability and transparency in a bid to engender confidence in the tax payer.” the budget officer said.
Mr Yartel mentioned that cemeteries and burial grounds, charity or public educational institutions, public hospitals and clinics and premises owned by diplomatic missions, as may be approved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, were exempted from assessment and rating tax.
During an open forum, the Queen of Nyanikrom , Nana Akosua Gyamfiaba 11, appealed to the assembly to be moderate in it budget proposal so as not to project huge and unrealistic budget which could not be realised.
By Clement Adzei Boye, Shama
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
