Revenue collectors cautioned against cheating, exploitation

Woriyanga (U/E), Feb 17, GNA - Mr Gilbert Nuru-Teg, the Garu-Tempane District Co-ordinating Director, has cautioned revenue collectors against attempts to exploit the ignorance of the area's illiterate population to enrich themselves.

He said effective local revenue mobilization was the only way the new district could provide the essential basic infrastructure to enable it to improve the living standards of the people.

"However, this should be done with transparency and according to laid down regulations," he said.

Mr Nuru-Teg said this at a forum for revenue collectors and chiefs organized at Woriyanga near Garu in the Upper East Region. He warned that anyone caught cheating the system would be severely dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

''The district will do all in its capacity to mobilize sufficient local revenue to initiate projects that would alleviate poverty in the area.''

Mr Nuru-Teg called for total commitment on the part of revenue collectors and urged the people to be vigilant and to assist the assembly to weed out cheats in the system so as to realize its developmental objectives.

"You should always demand receipts for every fee paid, to prevent cheating collectors from pocketing your money and report corrupt collectors to the assembly," he said.

Mr Mahamudu Bukari, the Assembly Member for the area, said the creation of the new district has brought the area closer to government. Mr Bukari urged the people not to allow politics to draw back the area's progress but rather it should be used as a unifying force that would help improve their welfare.

He said citizens of the district resident in Accra had donated 4 million cedis for the provision of a borehole in Woriyanga.