The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shai-Osudoku District, Hon. Ignatius Godfred Dordoe, has announced a major digital transformation initiative aimed at modernising revenue collection and improving transparency within the district assembly.
Speaking at a press conference, the DCE described the initiative as a historic milestone for the district, noting that the Assembly had taken a bold step to establish a fully mechanised and computerised revenue management system for the first time in decades.
According to him, the Assembly inherited an outdated and disjointed database system that lacked coherence and proper verification structures, making revenue mobilisation ineffective and vulnerable to manipulation.
He explained that management decided to invest in technology-driven solutions to improve efficiency and increase internally generated funds needed for development projects across the district.
As part of the initiative, the Assembly procured laptops and tablets and recruited more than 40 field officers and data collectors to undertake a comprehensive data collection exercise across the district.
“We realised that the old system did not contain the scientific character needed for verification and accountability. It was porous and anybody could manipulate it and get away with it,” Hon. Dordoe stated.
He disclosed that the district, which covers approximately 29.5 per cent of the total land area of the Greater Accra Region, has so far achieved about 75 percent data coverage.
The remaining communities yet to be covered include farming and hinterland areas such as Asutuare.
The DCE noted that the Assembly prioritised urban and commercial centres in the initial phase to maximise revenue collection within the stipulated billing timelines.
He explained that the data collection exercise involved field officers using tablets equipped with Kobo Collect software to gather detailed information on businesses and properties across the district.
The information collected, he said, was transmitted directly to a central dashboard at the Assembly offices where officials monitored, verified and validated the data before migrating it into a mechanised revenue management system.
According to him, over 11,000 data entries were initially collected, but after verification and corrections, the Assembly successfully validated more than 10,000 records.
The exercise, he revealed, generated an estimated revenue potential of about GH¢4.5 million.
Hon. Dordoe explained that the new system assigns every business and property owner a unique account number, enabling the Assembly to track payments, outstanding arrears and payment histories accurately.
“If a company pays part of its bill, the system automatically records the outstanding balance and carries it forward into subsequent billing periods,” he said.
He further indicated that the system incorporates GPS mapping technology, allowing the Assembly to identify and locate businesses and properties within the district with ease.
The DCE said the new billing framework also categorises businesses into various classes, including medium enterprises, large-scale businesses and manufacturing companies, with clearly defined fee structures corresponding to each category.
According to him, this approach is intended to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in billing.
“We do not want a situation where people think figures are arbitrarily imposed on them. Every amount corresponds with the approved fee-fixing resolution,” he stressed.
Hon. Dordoe also disclosed that the mechanised bills contain detailed instructions for ratepayers, including payment locations, payment procedures and contact information for assistance.
He explained that the Assembly had introduced two different colour-coded bills — yellow for property rates and blue for business operating permits — to make identification easier for residents and businesses.
The DCE assured residents that trained revenue collectors would be deployed to the field wearing branded reflector jackets and official identification cards bearing the Assembly’s logo.
He warned the public against dealing with imposters and urged residents to report anyone attempting to collect money without proper identification.
He further emphasised that all payments must be accompanied by official government receipts, known as General Counterfoil Receipts (GCRs), in addition to the mechanised bills.
“The bill is not a receipt. Every ratepayer must demand a GCR after making payment,” he cautioned.
Hon. Dordoe explained that the Assembly intends to maintain continuous data updates, where revenue collectors will simultaneously gather new data while undertaking revenue collection activities.
According to him, businesses that expand or add new facilities will be revalued accordingly to ensure updated records.
He stressed that the ultimate goal of the initiative is to create a transparent, accountable and traceable revenue mobilisation system capable of supporting the district’s development agenda.
The DCE urged residents and businesses within the district to cooperate fully with the Assembly and embrace the new system.
“This revenue belongs to all of us. It is what we will use to bring development to the district,” he stated.
He revealed that the Assembly currently generates approximately GH¢3 million in actual revenue annually but is targeting between GH¢8 million and GH¢10 million through the new mechanised system.
Hon. Dordoe expressed optimism that increased revenue mobilisation would significantly transform infrastructure and development across the district.
He also appealed to the media to support the public education campaign by helping residents understand the new billing system and the importance of paying their rates promptly.
“We want everybody to participate in this process. Together, we can generate the needed revenue and transform Shai-Osudoku,” he added.
By 1960news.com
