News

Neglect of small scale businesses in fee fixing resolution; plight of Nkoranza Municipal Assembly

• By EDMOND GYEBI
• December 15, 2018
• 0

A Feature by Dennis Peprah


     Ghana, like other developing countries, is having difficulty raising the much-needed revenue through the tax/fee system.


     In spite of all the efforts made to break free from “deficit financing” of budgetary programmes year-on-year , deep-seated challenges, including corruption, lack of transparency, accountability, transfer pricing, tax avoidance/evasion and lack of citizens participation keep stifling all actions.


     The World Bank (1994) defines participation as a process through which stakeholders influence and share control over development initiatives, and the decisions as well as resources which affect them.


    Per regulations, all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies as mandated by the Local Government Act 2016, Act 936 shall enable residents and other stakeholders in the District to participate effectively in the activities of the District Assembly.


     But, what is happening in the Nkoranza Municipality - there is total absence of consultation with small scale businesses when deciding fees to be paid by all businesses in the Nkoranza Municipality.


               Fee Fixing Resolution

    Fee fixing resolution is a local authority function vested by the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) as amended and each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly reserves the right to exercise its own Fee Fixing Resolution rates for collection and payment into its own local account.


    These rates are sundry levies such as for building permits, abattoirs, liquor, beer and beverages, beer bars, drinking spots, pito houses, akpeteshie distillers, cigarette distributors/sellers, private educational institutions, and Day Care Centres.


    Burial fees, travel agents, artisans, petroleum/gas installations such as surface tank operators or established filling stations as well as permits for sanitation service providers, hospitality service providers, psychic traditional healers and herbalists consultants and contractors are all inclusive.


    The importance of fair taxation through fee fixing came into sharp focus in Ghana from the year 2000 when the need for strengthening the tax system and administration were recognized in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy’s (GPRS) 2000.


     More so, Annual Progress Report of March 2004 (National Planning Commission) re-emphasized in the 2006 Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSII).


Fee fixing resolution cannot be excluded in the sub-district structures of the District Assembly.

    

      Section 41 of the Act 936 states that District level stakeholders may; participate in the deliberative function of the District Assembly by the publication of a draft bye-law or fee-fixing resolution in a media of mass communication in the district.


     That, according to the Act includes radio, the print media, notice boards on the premises of the District Assembly and in the major towns and settlements in the district, before the commencement of proceedings on the draft bye-law or fee-fixing resolution.   

    

      Problem

   

     Despite provisions in the Act 936 which guides the operation of MMDCEs in Ghana, many Small, Medium Enterprises do not participate in the process of fee fixing in the Nkoranza Municipality of the BrongAhafo Region.


      This situation, which is contrary to the requirements of Local Government Act 2016, Act 936 of involving stakeholders in the operations of the Assembly is affecting Internally Generated Fund (IGF) being raise by the Assembly.


     The commonest challenges in fee collection processes in the Municipality are the neglect of the businesses in the fee fixing process.


      This breeds misconceptions, evasions and default in payments of such fees, according to a research conducted by the Center of Posterity Interest Organization (COPIO), a Techiman-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).


     Other challenges found are inadequacy of logistics, inadequate field staff and lack of public education on fee fixation and fee collection.


     The challenges in fee collection processes were found to be hampering the successful operations of businesses and hence affecting living standards in the Municipality.


     Thus involving small scale businesses will ensure transparency and accountability and hence compliance in fee payments.


     BUSAC Intervention    


    The total absence of consultations in fee fixing resolution has pushed the Nkoranza Conservative Hairdressers Associations (CHA) to implement a project on “improving fee fixing regime/decision for enhanced business development in the Nkoranza Municipality”


     Thanks to the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund which is funding the advocacy project aimed at pushing the Municipal Assembly to actively engage business entrepreneurs in its fee fixing resolutions.


      According to Madam Martha Fosuaa, the Chairperson of the Nkoranza CHA, because authorities at the Municipal Assembly failed to engage small scale businesses in the deliberations during fee fixing, businesses also failed to pay the fees.

 

    Because of that small scale business always complained by high rates, unclear categorization and poor information about the basis of increases in rates and fees.


     This situation is causing unpalatable relationship between assembly’s revenue collectors and small scale businesses in the Municipality.


      She commended BUSAC and its partners – DANIDA, EU and USAID for the funding, saying the project was making significant impact as the city authorities had started engaging the businesses in decision making processes.


     Dr John Apkarep, a researcher and a consultant of the BUSAC, said the project aimed helping to identify and address bottlenecks affecting the economic activities of the CHA in the Nkoranza Municipality small scale businesses.


     The project would regularly engage authorities at the Assembly, held radio show discussions and stakeholder’s sensitizations to achieve desirable results.


    Mr. Kwame Adu Gyamfi, the Presiding Member of the Nkoranza Municipal Assembly said the assembly was losing revenue because many of the business and tax payers were not paying affecting the assembly’s IGF mobilization.


    He admitted that the project was laudable one because since its

implementation started in the Municipality, tax payer’s attitude had changed as many of the payers who were reluctant to pay could now walk to the Assembly and pay their taxes, rates and fees.


    Mr Gyamfi expressed appreciation to CHA and BUSAC for the project which he added was making significant impact on the assembly’s IGF mobilization.


      Recommendation


    To improve on the Nkoranza Municipal Assembly’s IGF mobilization, the Assembly must endeavour to work according to the mandate stated in the Local Government Act 936 with regards to public participation in its activities and thereby involving the hairdressers and barbers in the Municipality in the Assembly’s fee fixing processes.


    The Assembly should endeavour to provide adequate field staff and provide them with adequate logistics to smoothen fee collection in the Municipality.


    Moreover, intensification of public education on the fee fixation and fee collection is recommended for enhanced revenue generation in the Municipality and to minimize clashes between fee collectors and fee payers.


    The Assembly should exhibit a good level of transparency and accountability in the administration of funds it collects to motivate fee payers to continue to pay, whilst tax payers should understand and regard fee fixing, collection and payment as a collective responsibility towards the growth of the Assembly.


     By, so doing, the municipal assembly would be able to improve on its IGF mobilization, and generate the required revenue needed for community development.

Source: www.watchghana.com/Dennis Peprah