Don’t neglect us in fee fixing –ASSI urges STMA

Members of the Sekondi -Takoradi branch of the Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI) have expressed concern about the refusal of the authorities of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to involve them in the fixing of fees.

They said the turn of events could bring economic hardship on them as they are made to pay higher fees and rates far above their resources.

Mr Eassah Kofi Ackaah, Chairman of the ASSI, led the members to express the concern at a day’s workshop organized for stakeholders to deliberate on the issue.

Mr Ackaah complained that authorities of the STMA had persistently ignored their plea for them to participate in the fee fixing during their deliberations adding their involvement would help identify and bring on board people who had been dodging the payment of fees.

Mr Anthony Moses, Budget Officer of the STMA said, in a bid to increase revenue generation, the Assembly has collaborated with private partners to identify the rate payers, serve and bill them with data to compel them to exercise the civic responsibility.

He explained that the situation has demanded the participation of private partners because the Assembly has only 42 staff engaged in the revenue mobilization and appealed to the communities to expose people transacting businesses on the quiet.

Mr Moses said the Assembly does not operate in isolation as its deliberation is opened to all to participate and described the complain of the ASSI as untenable.