AMA embarks on massive revenue mobilisation drive…and warns collectors to desist from kuluulu

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) yesterday began a massive revenue collection drive to retrieve debts owed by businesses in the Accra Metropolis.

Briefing the media before the exercise, Mr. Alfred Vanderpujie, Chief Executive of the AMA (MCE), warned the staff and revenue collectors against enriching themselves during the process, but rather exercise a high sense of responsibility.

He said, the Herculean task of the Assembly, in ensuring that Accra befits a modern capital city, revolves around funds, and the refusal or non-payment of rent fees would not auger well for the assembly.

He disclosed that since the beginning the year, most businesses had not paid their business operating fee, adding that most of these funds goes into sanitation and waste management.

Explaining, the Mayor said the Assembly spent a chunk of its revenue on revenue collection, yet the assembly was still grabbling with keeping the city clean.

Mr. Vanderpuije said the assembly again has the headache of providing good roads, schools and staff development.

He said every step the assembly takes spins around funds, and “If these companies and shops continue to default in payment of their rent fees, how will the assembly work?”

As to how the fee fixing is done, Mrs. Lydia Sackey, Budget Officer of AMA, noted that it was done with the collaboration of stakeholders and the various trade associations in the metropolis.

She said Accra had been demarcated into three zones in the collection of revenue, and the rates are charged according to the volume and location of business.

She said the least Business Operating Permit (BOP) costs GH¢29, excluding weekends and public holidays.

On the basis of some revenue collectors enriching themselves, Mrs. Sackey cautioned that official receipts should be demanded after payment.

She said it had come to the notice to the assembly that some collectors had been printing out fake receipts to dupe unsuspecting clients, and warned the public to report such people.

When the task force, led by the Metro Chief Executive, hit the road, the first office/shop adjacent the AMA headoffice was something different, as the owner had not paid, but was quickly to issue a cheque.

Owners of Glamour Stores, owned by a Chinese expatriate, also had not paid BOP, which resulted in hot exchanges between the Assembly revenue collectors, due to the language barrier.

Defaulting of payment would result in the locking up of the shop or company, and a fine of 30% of the amount.