Angry youth of Dalung in the Kumbungu District of the northern region have taken over revenue collection of sand winning activities in the area without having the assembly’s approval. The youth took over collection of revenue from all Tipper Trucks in the district on Sunday after what they called mismanagement and denial of Dalun area council 50% of the revenue as enshrined in the local government act.
The district police command could not stop the youth’s action after they had explained to the police the unfair treatment in management of proceeds accrued ofrom the sea sand in the area.
On Sunday, December 25th 2016, the youth were able to collect two hundred and forty-nine Ghana cedis (249) with the receipt of the Dalun youth center.
Before their action, the youth held a crunch meeting on Thursday with the Disstrict Chief Executive for Kumbungu, Alhaji Alhassan Musah.
The District Coordinating Director and the District and finance who were expected at the meeting however failed to show up.
The Thursday meeting ended inconclusively and was adjourned to Friday for further deliberation which again could come off.
The youth then took a decision in consultation with the Dalun Zaachi, youth chairman and the Dalun youth association members to collect the revenu.
Ghana’s local government Act 426 of 1993 mandates district assemblies to mobilize and generate local revenue from all income in a district.
The act also mandates the assembly to organize and collect financial contributions accrued from identifiable sources. This, the youth said was the case in their area.
The Kumbungu DCE told the youth at the meeting that he can’t do much since his tenure of office has come to an end and therefore directed the youth to the district coordinating director and finance officer for amicable solution.
This is the second time the youth have taken over the collection of revenue from the district assembly revenue officers.
In 2013-2014, the youth took similar action in the then Tolon/Kumbungu district when the area council was not getting its 50% share.
In 2015 to 2016, the youth collected about 25, 000 Ghana cedis for the assembly and was expecting 10,000 cedis as the law mandates to be given to the Dalun area council.
The youth in November 17th, 2016 collected 1,600 Ghana cedis to the Kumbungu district assembly and again the Dalun area council did get its 50%.
The assembly man for Dalun electoral area, Abubakari Mohammed told Zaa News that he has raised the issue on several meetings at the assembly and nothing has been done about it.
He explained that the youth are using their center which was registered with the regional department to collect the revenue.