By Iddi Yire
Accra, Feb. 26, GNA – The Office of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) has launched a two-day training workshop to build the capacity of 10 staff each of the 35 municipal assemblies participating in the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme.
The OHLGS in a statement said the training was using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for improved revenue mobilisation and management.
It said the workshop for the first set of two batches of officers was held in Kumasi from 16th-20th February.
Speaking at the opening, Professor Lord Mensah, Head of the Local Government Service, said traditional revenue moblisation and management methods were no longer adequate and that the future depends on the adoption and use of technology which would eventually enhance effective local governance.
“Without adequate and proper utilisation of revenue, it becomes extremely difficult for the Assembly to provide quality services such as sanitation, education, health, and infrastructure,” he stated.
The statement said the training centres used District Local Revenue (dL-Rev) software to equip participants with skills in digital revenue collection, process automation, data accuracy, and transparency to boost public confidence and enhanced local governance.
Prof. Mensah described the workshop as timely and strategic, noting that it contributes directly to the mission of the Local Government Service and the objectives of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting transparency.
In a speech read on his behalf, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, reiterated the critical role of the dL-Rev Software to enhance revenue management within Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
This initiative which forms part of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP), aims to equip local authorities with the necessary tools to mobilise and manage Internally Generated Funds (IGF) effectively.
The Minister stated that many MMDAs still depended heavily on Central Government transfers, which were often insufficient and unpredictable.
The statement said the swift implementation of the dLRev software was essential to enable Assemblies to generate adequate revenue and improve local service delivery.
It said participants were encouraged to embrace ICT as a supportive tool rather than a threat, with emphasis placed on collaboration among revenue collectors, finance officers, and management in driving the transition to digital systems.
The workshop is expected to modernise revenue mobilisation practices, increase Internally Generated Funds, and support sustainable development within local communities across Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei