MCE threatens to sue tax defaulters

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ga South Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra region, Mr. Jerry Kwei Thompson, has hinted that his outfit will soon wage war on all individuals, companies, businesses and institutions that refuse to pay their business operating permits, daily tolls and property rates.

The MCE has, therefore, set August 30, 2015 as the deadline for institutions, businesses and individuals to voluntarily pay their taxes to the Assembly to avoid being forced to pay or face the full rigours of the law.

Mr. Thompson disclosed this during a durbar to announce the commencement of a multi-million dollar road project at Mandela-Ashbread in Ga South Municipality in Accra yesterday.

The durbar was organised by the Ga South Municipality and the 2012 parliamentary candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Ga South Constituency, Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku.

Its aim was for the aspiring MP and the MCE to interact and seek the views of the constituents with respect to challenges confronting Mandela near New Weija.

It would be recalled that last year, the Ga South Municipal Assembly embarked on similar operations with their task force which led to some private institutions and other hotels and hostels being locked for defaulting in payment of taxes and property rates.

The MCE therefore urged the various businesses and institutions within his area to cooperate and support the Assembly by paying their taxes to enable them raise the needed funds to develop the area.

The MCE lamented: “I can tell you that the reason for the slow development of Ga South Municipality is due to activities of some residents who are doing things which go contrary to the laid down development scheme,” he said.

That, he said, was not only bad but was impeding the progress of Ga South Municipality, and thus appealed to such people to refrain from such a practice.

Mr. Thompson also appealed to the traditional leaders in the area to educate their subjects to be of good behaviour since the law would not spare anyone regardless of his/her religion or political affiliation.

Giving an overview of the project, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ga South Municipal Assembly, Mr. Elliot Addom, disclosed that the project which will cost GHC1,361,130.89 will be executed through the Assembly Internal Generated Funds (IGF).

"This is part of our desire to improve infrastructure development in Ga South municipality. We hope that the people will not use the drains as receptacle for dumping.

"...we now expect that residents will reciprocate by paying property rates to enable us develop others," Ga South PRO stressed.

He further disclosed that the assembly was already constructing the Prof. John Evans Atta Mills bypass and part of the Amanfro road to link the Obom community, adding that the assembly has allocated about GHC100,000 for re-gravelling of major roads in Ga South communities.

Some of the residents in New Weija who spoke to Today gave suggestions on how the current sanitation challenges could be improved in the municipality.

According to them, contracts of the various waste management institutions should be abrogated for non-performance.

For her part, Madam Darko-Opoku commended the assembly for organising the durbar to enable residents share their view on problems in the area.