The Northern Region took its turn for this year's Regional Budget Hearing with a call to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and their sub-structures to adopt cost-effective strategies to serve the people.

"> The Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, who made the call believes such strategies would make them efficient in delivering essential services to the public, the reason for which they exist as state entities.

He talked about the need to improve upon revenue mobilisation, emphasising the significance of the Revenue Improvement Action Plan (RIAP), adding it is a valuable tool to enhance revenue mobilisation for District Assemblies.

Alhaji Shaibu urged the Coordinating Directors of the MMDAs to take the lead in initiating innovative ideas to improve revenue mobilisation in their respective municipalities and districts.

"> ADVERTISEMENTHe also advised the MMDAs to gazette their bylaws, saying that would give them the legal basis to enforce them to ensure compliance.

The Minister called for the activation and strengthening of sub-structures of the assemblies like the Sub-Metros, Urban, Town and Area Councils, adding that they exist to perform delegated functions which is needed to promote decentralisation.

On the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), he said it is a legal requirement that is binding on the MMDAs to use it to transact public financial business.

He advised that for transparency and accountability purposes, the 2024 composite budget, when approved by the General Assembly, should be signed by the Presiding Members and the Coordinating Directors before they are submitted to the Regional Coordinating Council.