The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) has beat down its annual fee prepared by the Ministry of Local government and Rural Development central government for business operators in the metropolis.
The ministry early set maximum rate of each revenue item and the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies look at it and fix their own rate based on the economic situation of the area.
The items cut across all sectors of the economy from manufacturing, dealers, automobile dealers and parts dealers, service providers and small-scale businesses operators in the metropolis.
The estimates as presented by the budget of the assembly included moving ‘Wazams’ Barbary salons, and dealers of their tools as well as producers and retailers of beans and Bakeries, agro import and dealers, pot dealers, distributors, aluminum fabricators and Akpeteshie dealers within the metropolis.
The assembly explained that it has reduced its rate because of the nature of business and economic conditions of those engaging within the metropolis. Senior Budget Analyst, Rose Acquaye stated this when she presented draft fee fixing resolution and budget estimates for 2022-2025 at the Budget, Revenue, Finance and Administration committees stakeholders consultation meeting on Tuesday October 5,2021.
In the draft, Aluminum fabricators within the metropolis will pay 1,000 per annum instead 35,00 proposed by the local government ministry.
Some committee members raised concerns about the reductions arguing that the assembly need more adequate revenue to carry out certain projects and activities. But officials of the budget unit explained that it is better to consider the nature of businesses and their capabilities before any rate or fee.
In the case of the aluminum, the unit explained that its data collected by revenue collectors indicated that some of them can’t even pre-finance their work unless clients made part-payment.
Explaining the reasons for the meeting, Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuuri-Teg said it was in fulfillment of local governance Act, Act 2016, act 936. Section 41 of the act he explained mandate the assembly to invite stakeholders before any fee or rate is approved.
The assembly can’t issue out fee to stakeholders without consulting, Mr Nuuri-Teg. The fee fixing resolution from the 3 committees Mr Nuuri-Teg said will now be put before the general house of the assembly for deliberations before it is approved.