The Shama District Assembly has from January to September this year mobilized GH¢287, 092.23, representing 64.33 percent out of its budget of GH¢446,255.00 from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The revenue was generated from rates, lands/royalties, fees, fines, licenses, renting of land, building, equipment and miscellaneous.

Within the same period, expenditure amounted to GH¢300, 233.71, representing 67.32 percent out of the revised estimate of GH¢445, 955, with the expenditure going into utilities, rent, repairs/maintenance, training, special services, materials, compensation and other allowances.

Mr Vincent Mawuli Wordi, Budget Officer, announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the first session of the Shama District Assembly.

He said “the performance has necessitated the revision of the annual estimates downwards to about GH¢446, 255.00.

In 2014, an amount of GH¢357, 630.89, representing 70.04 was collected out of the revised budget estimates of GH¢458, 237.00, while the Assembly spent GH¢343, 796, 74 representing 74.95 percent out of a target of GH¢458, 732.

The Budget officer attributed the low revenue performance to low inflows from building permits, non-prosecution of rate defaulters, non-availability of certain logistics for revenue mobilization and bill distributing, and poor public education on payments of rates.

To reverse the trend to enable the assembly to increase its revenue generation, Mr Wordi warned that “the achievement of our revenue target in the coming years is incumbent on all staff, assembly members, unit committees, area council members to monitor revenue collectors and staff of revenue generating departments to report any diversion of revenue meant for the assembly”.

He suggested that a mechanism be put in place to ensure complaints were quickly dealt with and where applicable, sanctions applied on the culprits involved.

On projects, the Budget Officer said the Assembly completed the construction of a number of drains, toilet facilities, and classroom blocks in the various communities, while CHPS compounds were still under construction some of which would be constructed with the District Development Fund.

He mentioned some of the beneficiary communities as Lower/Upper Inchaban, Essaman, Twer Nyame, Ohiamadwen, Fawomanye and others.

He said the total revenue estimate to be generated and received in the 2016 financial year amounts to GH¢7, 568,725.27.

In respect of the 2016 fiscal year, Mr Wordi stated that estimate revenue of GH¢511, 160.00 is expected to be generated from the assembly’s traditional source.