As part of a revenue mobilization and enforcement exercise, Accra Mayor Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey led a new team of revenue collectors from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to the Kantamanto Market in the Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday. The goal of the exercise was to increase compliance and educate traders on the significance of paying market tolls.
In addition to strengthening Internally Generated Funds (IGF), the exercise served to educate traders about the ways in which government funds are used to fund public services and infrastructure.
Speaking to traders and market women during the exercise, Mayor Allotey clarified that market tolls were levied on anyone doing business in the city and that their purpose was to support local development projects, manage market operations, and maintain infrastructure.
Mayor Kpakpo Allotey, accompanied by Hon. Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, the Municipal Chief Executive for Korle Klottey; Mr. Douglas N.K. Annoful, the Metro Coordinating Director; Mr. Abeeku Amissah, the Director of Finance at the AMA; and other Assembly officials, announced that the authorized daily market toll was GH¢2 and warned traders against paying for phony or unofficial receipts.
“Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. Always make sure you take your receipt after paying. We have two main tickets, one for revenue collection and another for waste collection. If anyone demands more than GH¢2 or presents unfamiliar tickets, don’t pay,” he advised.
The Mayor clarified that the AMA Fee-Fixing Resolution and market tolls collected under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), were legitimate levies imposed by the Assembly to finance the construction and upkeep of infrastructure and necessary services, such as road rehabilitation, waste management, and sanitation enforcement.
“We take these revenues for the development of the city. This money is used for the day-to-day running of the Assembly and services that benefit you directly, like rubbish collection and market sanitation,” he stated.
Mayor Allotey recalled how he chose to reroute monies into community projects by forgoing a number of privileges when he first took office.
According to him, the activity was a goodwill gesture meant to strengthen ties with the traders, who have a constant presence in the market regardless of government changes.
“You have been here longer than most of us in the office. I’m here to work with you and not against you. Each government comes and goes, but you are still here,” he remarked.
As requested by the Kantamanto market’s leadership, the mayor pledged to clear the market’s entrance and make it easier for vendors and patrons to access the area.
In order to generate money and guarantee the provision of necessary municipal services, the AMA is authorized by Section 120 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), to collect fees, charges, and tolls.
The precise tolls that market users and other commercial operators operating under its authority must pay are further detailed in the AMA’s Fee-Fixing Resolution.
Source: newsthemegh.com