Shama (W/R), Sept. 28, GNA - The Shama District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Amoah has tasked assembly members and other stakeholders in the district to as a matter of urgency adopt prudent but drastic measures to increase the assembly's Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
He said releases from central government had become unreliable and it was therefore imperative for them to come up with strategic measures that would help generate enough revenue for the operations of the district.
Mr Amoah, who made the call during the 6th ordinary meeting of the 3rd session of the assembly at Shama, in the Western Region, pointed out that the district has a lot of revenue potentials and with commitment and dedication it should be able to mobilize enough to effectively perform its mandate.
The DCE announced that the district had been selected by the Ministry of Finance as one of the pilot districts for the implementation of the 'Tree Project' a revenue mobilization project, which aims at helping assemblies to improve upon their internal revenue collection.
He said the process has begun in earnest and a test run of the system has also been undertaken in the Ituma township, noting that, the project is expected to provide the assembly with a software which would be used to store data, generate bills and facilitate electronic payment aside the regular collection by revenue staff.
Touching on social protection issues, the DCE said in May this year, a LEAP grant of GH¢ 91, 658.00 was disbursed to a total of 1,055 beneficiary households in 32 communities in the district.
He said under the Disability Fund Management committee support, a total of 87 persons with disabilities were supported with an amount of GH¢ 125,730 to help them live meaningful lives.
According to the DCE, out of the 87 persons, 25 were given an amount of GH¢ 17,300 to support their education, GH¢ 4,200 was also used to pay the medical bills of two people, whiles 60 PWDS were supported with items and start-up capital totalling GH¢ 104, 230.
On agriculture, he said 497 farmers were registered for the 2018 Planting for Food and Jobs Programme in the district, adding that, 147 hectares have been cultivated with rice while 168 hectares of maize have also been cultivated.
On the Fall Army Worms (FAW) Mr Amoah said a total of 248ha of maize farms were affected but with the timely spraying the farms were salvaged.
He said the security situation in the district continue to remain calm, except for a few chieftaincy disputes, and that, the DISEC had met twice to review those chieftaincy issues and remained resolved to ensure the peace and safety of citizens in the district.
He said schools benefitting from the feeding programme have increased from 34 to 48, and that, the Shama Senior High school has been selected to roll out the double track educational system.
Touching on Development projects, he said this year, the assembly was able to award more than seven projects, which include the construction of CHPs compounds, classroom blocks, community centres and the provision of dual desks for schools.
On Health, Mr Amoah said a number of CHPs compounds have been built in the district and were delivering health care service, announcing that, 4,754 people accepted modern contraceptives, whiles 2,092 out of 4,112 children have been immunized against measles, with 2,235 out of 4,112 children protected against yellow fever.
He said 70,152 long lasting insecticide nets were distributed to 33,023 registered households.
The Presiding Member of Shama District, Mr Percy Ahenawah, expressed concern about the low revenue generation in the district and attributed the situation to either low motivated of the revenue mobilization team, under billing and pocketing of revenue collected by revenue collectors
He in this regard stressed the need for the constitution of a revenue sub-committee to closely look at revenue generation in the district and also proposed that the finance and administration subcommittee of the assembly meet monthly to deliberate on monthly trial balance.
The presiding member lauded the town hall meetings and suggested that the various unit and area councils should organize similar meetings in their various areas this he noted would bring governance to the grassroots.
In a related development Mr Isaiah Mensah, assembly man for Etifi electoral area was suspended from two general assembly meetings for misconducting himself during the assembly meeting.
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