By Bubu Klinogo
A Local Governance Expert, Dr. Richard Fiadomor, says most MMDAs failed to maintain or increase their levels of Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) because they were unable to collect basic rates and property taxes.
In its latest report, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), indicated that just 71 out of the 216 MMDAs were able to keep or increase their IGF level between 2019 and 2020.
Dr. Fiadomor, who is the President of the Chamber of Local Governance and former Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, said boundary disputes between some assemblies have also been affecting the ability to collect the requisite taxes and levies.
Due to the inability of the Assemblies to collect property rates, the Minister of Finance announced in this year’s budget that the Central Government was going to take over the collection of the rates on behalf of the Assemblies.
The government has since engaged the GRA to collect the rates. Dr. Fiadomor is, however, kicking against that move.
According to him, ”what needs to be done is to build the capacities of the Assemblies to collect their own property rates.”