The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) has generated only 23 percent of its projected Internally Generated Fund (IGF) target for the first quarter of 2026, prompting plans for an aggressive revenue mobilisation campaign across the metropolis.
Mayor of Tamale, Hon. Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, disclosed this during the Assembly’s maiden stakeholder engagement and Town Hall Meeting held on Thursday, 7 May 2026, under the Government’s “Accounting to the People” initiative.
The programme formed part of a nationwide effort to replicate President John Dramani Mahama’s Resetting Agenda stakeholder engagements across Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to promote transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance.
Addressing stakeholders, Hon. Takoro revealed that the Assembly projected an IGF target of GH¢5.79 million for the 2026 fiscal year but had generated only GH¢1.36 million by the end of the first quarter.
He described the performance as worrying, particularly in the area of property rate collection, which recorded just five percent of the projected revenue target.
“To improve mobilisation efforts, the Assembly intends to designate all 41 electoral areas within the metropolis as revenue collection zones on commission basis,” the Mayor announced.
He added that public sensitisation exercises on property rates, motorbike rates and other levies would begin ahead of the implementation of the exercise on 1 June 2026.
The Mayor further disclosed that the Assembly had received more than GH¢6.2 million from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for the fourth quarter of 2025, including allocations for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), HIV/AIDS interventions and MPs’ Common Fund allocations.
However, he expressed concern over delays in the release of over GH¢8.2 million expected under the District Assemblies Common Fund Responsive Factor Grant (DACF-RFG), despite the Assembly’s strong performance during the 2024 District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) evaluation.
The engagement was supervised by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), represented by the Acting Chief Director, Mr. Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John.
Speaking during the programme, Mr. Abudu described the engagement as an important platform for strengthening participatory governance and public accountability.
“The essence of this engagement is to strengthen the relationship between government and citizens through openness, accountability, and inclusive governance. Development can only be meaningful when the people are actively involved in the process,” he stated.
He commended the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for initiating the forum, noting that such engagements help deepen public confidence in local governance and allow assemblies to account directly to citizens on government policies and projects.
The town hall meeting brought together traditional authorities, assembly members, heads of departments, civil society organisations, youth groups and residents of the metropolis.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
