Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Seth Tekper has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to exercise strict oversight responsibilities on employees of their districts to assist the finance ministry weed out ‘ghost names’ from payrolls.
The minister announced this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Daniel Syme during the 2015 budget hearing session of the Bolgatanga Municipal and the Talensi and Bongo district Assemblies held here in Bolgatanga last Friday.
The Bongo district, Talensi District and Bolgatanga Municipal Assemblies took their turn to account to the citizenry, the expenditure made in the year ending 2014 and plans for the year 2015.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and the Bongo and Talensi District Assemblies of the Upper East Region could not implement their major projects due to the inadequacy of the common funds supplied by government for the assemblies. This came to light when Chief Executives of the three assemblies took turns to read their 2015 budget.
Bongo District Chief Executive Alexis Adugdaa Ayamdor said the inability of his assembly to provide a shed for the Fire Service Station and also to construct an Ambulance Service station for the district were due to insufficient common funds. He said in coming year, the Bongo District Assembly has budgeted Ghc 9000 for the payment of electricity bills and another Ghc 70,000 for maintenance and fueling of vehicles.
Also taking his turn, District Chief Executive for Talensi, Edward Awunure stated that the irregular release of funds to the assembly is affecting the smooth running of the assembly. According to Mr. Awunure the assembly had budget of two million, one hundred and twenty nine thousand, one hundred and seventy six Ghana cedis for the year ending 2014 but received only five hundred and thirty five thousand, three hundred and fifteen Ghana cedis.
Last to read his budget was the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Edward Ayiriba Ayagle. The Bolga MCE mentioned in the 2015 budget include the construction of a semi detached teachers quarters at Kalbeo at a cost of Ninety-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Seven Ghana Cedis and the of rehabilitation of a teacher’s quarters in Sherigu at a cost of Ghc 37, 271.
A1 News checks revealed that indeed, the teachers’ quarters at Kalbeo was completed and handed over.
By: Joshua Asaah | A1radioonline.com | Ghana
