The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) is set to commence a municipality-wide data collection exercise on businesses and properties beginning in July as part of efforts to strengthen planning and improve revenue mobilization.
The exercise will involve the integration of businesses and properties onto the Government’s Digital Local Revenue (DLRev) platform, a system designed to enhance local revenue administration and improve access to accurate property and business data.
Exercise to Support Planning and Revenue Mobilisation
According to the Assembly, the initiative will enable management to accurately identify and map businesses and properties across the municipality, facilitating the fair assessment of rates and the efficient allocation of resources to communities in need.
Addressing participants at a one-day training workshop organized for a specialized task force assigned to undertake the exercise, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs. Joyce Akosua Angmorteh, described the project as a strategic intervention aimed at boosting the Assembly’s internally generated revenue.
She emphasized that the exercise should not be misconstrued as an attempt to intimidate residents and business owners but rather as a tool to support effective planning and development.
“This exercise is intended to help the Assembly improve planning and resource allocation. It is not meant to intimidate residents but to ensure that development is properly targeted and revenue collection is enhanced,” she stated.
Task Force Urged to Demonstrate Professionalism
Mrs. Angmortey urged members of the task force to approach the assignment with diligence, professionalism and integrity, stressing that inaccurate data collection could negatively affect the Assembly’s operations and development agenda.
She encouraged participants to seek guidance whenever challenges arise during the exercise rather than compromise the quality of their work.
“Do not hesitate to report any difficulties to management. I am calling on you to carry out your duties diligently and excellently because the success of this exercise is critical to the development of Obuasi,” she advised.
Participants Trained on DLRev Platform
The workshop featured presentations from key officers of the Assembly who equipped participants with the technical knowledge required for the exercise.
The Physical Planning Officer, Mrs. Agnes Amoah, took participants through the Municipality’s existing digital addressing system and introduced them to the DLRev platform. She explained that unlike previous approaches where properties were categorized by communities, the new system would focus on detailed property classification to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Other facilitators included the Budget Officer, Mrs. Edna Vivian Arkoh, who educated participants on the Assembly’s approved rate structures and fees, and the Management Information Systems (MIS) Officer, Mr. Salifu Amidu, who provided practical training on the use of the DLRev software.
Multi-Departmental Teams Deployed
The Assembly has already constituted teams for the exercise, drawing personnel from the Physical Planning Department, Revenue Department and Land Valuation Division.
The teams are expected to begin field operations in early July, marking a significant step toward modernizing revenue administration and strengthening data-driven planning within the Municipality.
Other officials at the workshop included the Municipal Finance Officer Mr. Zakaria Yahaya, Deputy Director (Administration) Madam Berthy Adu Koranteng and the Municipal Information Officer Mr. Ernest Kofi Offen.
Officials are optimistic that the exercise will improve the Assembly’s revenue performance while providing a reliable database to support future development interventions across Obuasi.
