The Wenchi Municipal Assembly has held a stakeholders engagement with Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the Municipality on new fee fixing.
The consultative meeting was to among other purposes;
Sensitize and enlighten the stakeholders on the new fees, rates, levies, licenses, permits for all businesses.
Solicit their views, contributions, inputs and concerns in the new fee fixing before approval and implementation for collection.
Educate stakeholders on Business Registration and Operating Permits and the benefits therein.
Educate them on the new formula of calculating rates and levies spelt out by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Decentralisation.
Sensitize stakeholders on the utilisation of the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) and the need to pay their fees and levies promptly and regularly.
The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) include Aluminum & Glass workers, Tailors & Dressmakers, Hairdressers & Beauticians, Private Schools, Carpenters & Wood workers, Transport Owners & Operators, Poultry Farmers, Garages, Clothes & Kente Weavers, Pharmaceutical Companies, Agro Chemicals & Inputs Dealers, Agro Processors, Cashew & Cash Crop Farmers, Leather workers and other Artisans.
In a presentation, the Municipal Head of the Business Advisory Centre of the Ghana Enterprise Agency (BAC/GEA) Miss Evelyn Yangnuu explained the differences and processes in business registrations with the Registrar General’s Department and the Municipal Assembly Business Operating Permit. The BAC Head urged business owners and operators to formalise their operations by acquirimg Business Registration Certificates and Permits before and during operations and ensure regular renewal for business security and uniqueness.
The Municipal Budget Analyst Desmond Titus Bannon presented the budget of the Assembly including the financial reports for 2020 and 2021. He also sensitized stakeholders on the legal basis for fees, levies and rates payable for business operations and the implications and penalties thereof for failure to pay.
In an Open Forum Section, the stakeholders proposed distinction of projects funded by the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) from projects sponsored by the Central Government (GoG) and other sources in order to appreciate the utilisation of the IGF.
They also lamented over delay in attending to their socio-economic needs.
Business owners and operators called for re-categorization of businesses to pay realistic levies.
The deputy Coordinating Director Ato Mends who chaired the meeting asked stakeholders to always seek clarifications from the Assembly on their concerns for redress. He emphasised that the Assembly would not and could not take any decision on expenditures without approval of the General Assembly. Mr Ato Mends called on stakeholders to collaborate and co-operate with the Assembly for development.
Source: Information Services Department (ISD/WMA)
By: Stanick Sofel Amuzu Kpodo