AMA increases levy and property rate

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA- The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has increased its annual fee on Commercial business units by 20 per cent with effect from next January, next year.

Financial institutions are exempted from the levy.

AMA was also considering marginal increases on property rates for the domestic, residential, commercial, industrial and mixed properties. A draft resolution, which contained the adjustments was presented and adopted at the First Ordinary Meeting of the First Session of the Assembly on Wednesday.

Factors considered in the determination of the fees and rates included, the unlikely decline of the rate of inflation and the expected deregulation of the petroleum prices bearing in mind the need for full cost recovery and fairness.

Dr. J.F. T Awaitey, Head of Budget presenting the report said by way of improving revenue, the recent data on house and street numbering would be used for the property rate billing.

Besides, a re-registration of all businesses would commence as well as intensify the enforcement of the AMA byelaws, he said. On sanitation, Dr Awaitey indicated that little effort had been made to improve revenue collection saying, about 80 per cent garbage generated in the city was not being paid for.

He said as expenditure on waste management continued to take about 60 to 70 per cent of the Assembly's revenue, there was the need to evolve ways to review the fees to reflect the reality on the ground.