Traders Flee From Minister

TRADERS at the Agona Nkwanta market in the Western Region took to their heels, abandoning their wares, when the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Stephen Asamoah Boa-teng, visited the market on Wednesday to assess tolls collection.

The Minister who was at the market to familiarise himself with the tax administration of the Ahanta West District Assembly wanted to know from the traders how much each pays as toll.

Some of the traders however left their wares and the market in haste when the Minister, accompanied by District Chief Executive, Kwesi Biney, went round.

This caused laughter among the onlookers and the Minister remarked". "They have run away; they think I’m in the rain for nothing. I’m serious. They are joking."

Mr. Asamoah Boateng expressed dissatisfaction about the disparities in the tolls collected at the market.

While some traders pay ¢8,000 per month, others pay ¢12,000 or ¢10,000 and yet others pay ¢5,000 or ¢1,000 per day.

Mr. Aamoah Boateng who was visibly furious at a point during the inspection said he did not understand why such a tax system should be allowed to operate.

"How do you tell me to advocate that the Common Fund should be raised to five per cent when you are doing things like these here.”

Mr. Asamoah Boateng asked the police to seize the wares of a maize seller who was reluctant to pay her toll of ¢5,000 before she quickly paid.

He told the DCE, “Look you’re sitting on money. The rates should be revised”. He ordered the dismissal or transfer of two ticket supervisors who were absent from duty when he visited the ticket office.

“They are not serious. I’m here and they are absent,” he remarked. Mr. Asamoah Boateng queried why there was no date or fee value on the counterfoil of the tickets.

“This gives room for manipulation. How do I know this is for yesterday or tomorrow?”

Mr. Biney blamed the variations in the tolls on the assembly members. “You fix it and they say it is too much,” he said.