Wenchi Municipal Assembly has engaged some categories of businesses operating in the Municipality.
The meeting was one of the series of consultative stakeholders engagements with business owners and operators to finalize and fix fees, rates and levies payable to the Assembly. The engagement was to help incorporate the inputs of the stakeholders into the decision making before approval by the general Assembly and implementation for collection.
The businesses include; Hotels, Betting companies, Hardware dealers, Restaurants, fast food and Chop Bar operators, drinking spots, wholesalers & retailers, supermarkets, Provision shop operators, Cosmetic shops, Rubber & Plastics sellers, Foam & Mattress sellers, Vehicle & Motor Parts dealers,
general goods merchants, etc.
The Municipal Budget Analyst, presented the draft composite budget earmarked by the Assembly for developmental activities in 2021. Mr D.T. Bannon emphasized on attitudinal change and the need to promptly and regularly pay their rates and levies in honesty for speedy development as expected. He cautioned business owners and operators against instigation which may lead to assault and attacks on Revenue Collectors.
The Local Governance Act 2016, Act 936
Section 158 (1) “A person who without lawful justification or excuse, I’m the proof of which lies on that person, refuses or willfully neglects to pay any basic rate payable by that person on or after the date on which the rate is payable, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than twenty-five penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than one month or to both fine and term of imprisonment”.
Section 159: “A person who incites any other person to refuse to pay any rate payable by that person or who assists a person to make false statement as to the liability of the person to pay rates without lawful justification or excuse, the proof of which shall be on that person, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than twenty-five penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than one month or to both fine and term of imprisonment “.The Budget Analyst also educated the stakeholders on the utilisation of the revenue collected also known as the Internally Generated Fund (IGF), thus payment of salaries and wages of casual workers of the Assembly, payment of commission to Revenue Collectors, provision and maintenance of street lights, reshaping of some feeder roads, sanitation facilities, amongst others.
In an Open Forum Session, the stakeholders called on the Assembly to be innovative and adventurous to identify more business operators and widen the tax net to cover more potential rate payers in order to rake in more revenue.
They also called for more sensitisation campaigns to educate the public on Revenue Mobilisation and usage.
Source: Information Services Department (ISD)
By: Stanick Sofel Amuzu Kpodo