The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken action in response to the concerns raised by assembly members within the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, who have threatened to assume direct responsibility for property tax collection.
These assembly members assert that since an entity designated by the GRA took over property rate collection in 2023, the assembly has not been receiving its rightful share of revenue.
In contrast, the GRA has insisted that it has executed all essential measures, and their records indicate that Municipal and Metropolitan District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country have experienced increased property revenue since the implementation of the new collection system in April.
The head of communications for the GRA’s property rate project, Ernest Adade, has advised assembly members nationwide to educate residents about the new collection method in order to boost revenue.
Adade expressed, “All the assemblies need to do is inform their ratepayers that there is a new method for paying property rates. This new approach involves using your mobile phone to access portal.myassembly.gov.gh and make payments.
If that is not feasible, we have established a dedicated call center to assist individuals in making property rate payments directly to the assemblies, without the need for human intervention.”
Additionally, Adade disclosed that the GRA plans to hold meetings with assembly members to provide further clarification on the collections and address their concerns.
“The only thing the assemblies need to do is tell their ratepayers that there is a new way to pay property rate and the new way is for you to take your mobile phone and dial portal.myassembly.gov.gh and pay. If you cannot do that, we have built a full call centre to help people pay their property rates direct to the assemblies with no human intervention.”
Adade also revealed that the GRA will be meeting with the assembly members to educate them more on the collections and address their concerns.
“We are going around all the assemblies trying to engage and improve the payment process,” Adade said. “What we realized is that most of the assemblies have folded their arms and sitting down that some money is coming from GRA for them and they are going to sit down and wait for that money.
“But I keep saying that the GRA does not necessarily collect property rates. Now the new property rate regime does not allow anybody to go and collect property rates from anyone. Everybody is paying directly to the assemblies’ account.”
ur attention that many assemblies have adopted a passive stance, expecting funds from the GRA, but it’s important to note that the GRA no longer collects property rates. Under the new property rate system, individuals are making direct payments to the assemblies’ accounts.”