GTZ DONATES OFFICE EQUIPMENT TO RCC, 3 DISTRICTS (PAGE 36)

THE German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) has presented office equipment valued at GH¢23,000 to the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and three other district assemblies in the region, namely Tano North, Kintampo South and Pru.
The items, which included computers and their accessories, printers, air conditioners, photocopiers, scanners and laptops, are to support the RCC and the beneficiary districts to establish an effective District Database System (DDS) for internal revenue generation and planning.
The gesture formed part of the GTZ’s support towards the country’s decentralisation reform programme.
The Programme Director of the Support for the Decentralisation Reform Programme of the GTZ, Mr Nikolas Beckman, who presented the items, said the donation was only a token to support the efforts of the beneficiary districts towards effective planning and revenue generation.
He mentioned the success of the Tain District, an earlier beneficiary under the programme, for the establishment of its database system, which has increased internally generated revenue by over 400 per cent.
He expressed the hope that the new beneficiary districts would take advantage of the gesture to increase their revenue generation.
Mr Beckman stressed the importance of the ongoing District Development Fund (DDF).
He said it was no surprise that assessments carried out nation-wide on performance had seen districts in the Brong Ahafo Region standing out among the others.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Tano North, Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, expressed gratitude on behalf of the RCC and the other beneficiary districts, giving the assurance that the equipment would be put to good use.
He also appealed to the country’s development partners for further assistance to the district assemblies to deepen the decentralisation process of the nation.
The Fiscal Decentralisation and Financial Management Advisor of the GTZ, Ms Lynda Amengor, said the programme had led to an improvement in district planning, budgeting and revenue mobilisation since the inception of the programme in 2004.
Seven districts, namely Jaman North and Jaman South, Asunafo North and Asunafo South, Dormaa, Wenchi and Tain, have so far been supported under the programme to establish functional databases, which had led to a significant improvement in their planning and revenue mobilisation.