A mid-year budget review has revealed significant revenue shortfalls among Municipal and District Assemblies (M/DAs) in the Eastern Region.
According to the Eastern Regional Minister,Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, by the end of June 2025, the Assemblies had collected ₵30,892,582.23 out of a total budgeted target of ₵79,103,053.30.
This represents just 39.05 percent performance at the mid-year point.
Notably, only seven Assemblies—Birim North, New Juaben South, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Kwahu West, Akuapem North, Atiwa West, and Birim Central—contributed half of the total revenue mobilized, amounting to ₵15.1 million. The remaining 26 Assemblies collectively accounted for the other half.
The Eastern Regional Minister said this during the Regional Coordinating Council Meeting with MMDCEs , Presiding Members and Heads of Institutions.
In terms of percentage performance against their individual budgets, the top five performing Assemblies are Birim South, Atiwa West, Denkyembour, Akuapem North, and West Akim. Conversely, the five lowest performers are Birim Central, Lower Manya Krobo, Asuogyaman, Kwahu South, and Yilo Krobo.
Overall, 25 Districts recorded below 50 percent revenue collection, raising concerns about the financial autonomy of the Assemblies.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, described the under-performance as “a sordid picture of the region’s revenue generation efforts.” She urged MMDCEs to take internally generated funds more seriously by adopting robust strategies to harness untapped revenue potentials and block leakages.
According to her, Assemblies have been clothed with the powers to mobilize resources to bring development to their citizenry, and must therefore leverage the opportunities within their jurisdictions to improve performance.
“Hon. M/DCEs, to be serious on internally generated funds to ensure financial autonomy. Assemblies have been clothed with the powers to mobilize all the resources to bring about the expected development to your citizenry, so you must leverage on the huge potentials within your areas to mobilize the much-needed revenue”
She said this calls for a very robust revenue collection mechanisms or strategies that will garner all the untapped revenue potentials and block all leakages for the benefit of the people.
Source:Mybrytfmonline. com/Obed Ansah
