Involve us in fee fixing-Small scale entrepreneurs in N/R

The growing hostility between small scale entrepreneurs and revenue collectors of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies is negatively affecting revenue mobilization in the Northern region.

Revenue collectors sometimes go through hell before the small scale business operators pay the fees. It is becoming common feature to see revenue collectors lock up shops of tax defaulters.

This unfriendly relationship, according to a research conducted by Northern Region's branch of Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI), is due to lack of stronger collaboration between the small scale entrepreneurs and the assemblies.

Financed by BUSAC Fund, the research sought to identify the extent to which Private Sector Operators are involved in decisions that affect their businesses at the various Assemblies in the region.

Presenting the findings of the research at a media encounter in Tamale, the President of the Association, Saeed Abdul-Moomen, noted that lack of a representation of the small scale entrepreneurs at the decision making level of the Assemblies, was a major concern to the Association.

He admitted the Business Advisory Committees (BACs) can be found in all MMDs, they do not have a place at the decision making levels in the Assemblies.

To reverse the trend, the research report recommends an establishment of Private Sector Desk in all Assemblies to serve as a liaison between the two stakeholders.

The report reveals most small scale entrepreneurs feel reluctant to pay levies charged by the Assemblies because they consider it too high, while others demand to know the criteria for the fee fixing.

The Association is therefore calling on MMDA's to involve it in the fee fixing process to minimise the antagonism between its members and the Assemblies.

This, the Association believes, will increase revenue mobilisation at the various MMDA's in the region.

Story by Ghana/Joy News/Clement Boateng