A total of GH¢ 293,203 revenue was realised from market tolls collected at the end of December last year by the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA).
This represents 73.3 per cent of the actual revenue against the targeted budget of GH¢400,000.
The Municipal Finance Officer, Mr Ebenezer Lomotey, disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times during a revenue collection enforcement exercise at the Odawna Market in Accra on Wednesday.
The exercise, which was led by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah, was to sensitise traders on the need to pay tolls within the municipality.
Mr Lomotey indicated that the maiden exercise formed part of the Assembly’s initiative to improve on its revenue collection and increase Internally Generated Funds (IGFs).
He said in January 2023, the Assembly collected an amount of GH¢ 19,910, aiming to increase its target this year.
“Revenue collection has always been a difficult task, so this is to help us plan our budget well, test the system whether there are leakages or import of tickets within the Assembly,” he added.
Mr Tawiah said following the government’s changes in the revenue collection of property rates which was now done by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) coupled with some challenges, such as sanitation, streetism, among others in the municipality, it was necessary for the Assembly to step up its effort in revenue mobilisation to rake in more resources.
“The collection here turns to be on the low side, but it’s not like that in Osu and its environs, because the traders complain of rehabilitation of their market. We’re working on it but that doesn’t mean they should not pay their taxes.
These are some of the monies used in solving some problems within the Assembly, so this will not be our first time, we will continue to embark on this exercise weekly on every Wednesday to enable the Assembly improve on its IGF,” he added.
The MCE said over 2,000 traders occupied the Odawna Market and each was expected to pay GH¢2.50 on a daily basis depending on the type of items they sell.
He announced plans by the Assembly to introduce a new digitised revenue collection system to improve and make payments more convenient to reduce revenue leakages and alleged corruption, while promoting voluntary compliance and a conducive rate-paying environment.
The MCE urged the traders to fulfil their tax obligations under the law to enable the Assembly undertake more development projects.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
