World Bank sponsors revaluation for Kpando/South Dayi districts

Kpando, Oct 29, GNA - A World Bank funded pilot project on revaluation of property rates to boost revenue mobilisation of the Kpando and South Dayi districts has presented its recommendations at a brief ceremony at Kpando. A total of 10,973 immovable properties with total rateable value of GHc 1.36 million had been revalued for the Kpando and South Dayi districts. The list includes 1,954 properties under construction and 519 dilapidated ones with the two districts divided into 57 divisions and 626 sub-divisions.

The project, worth 200,000 dollars was to enhance the revenue generation and mobilisation of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and replicated throughout the country. Lower and Upper Manya Krobo districts in the Eastern Region and Dangbe East in Greater Accra region are other beneficiaries in an exercise which commenced in August 2008 after a similar exercise in 1985. Mr Alex Sarfo, Executive Director in-charge of Rating Valuation, Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission, urged beneficiary districts to automate their billing systems to make rates collection prompt, efficient and stress-free.

Mr Sarfo said MMDAs are to further set realistic rate impost in approved fee-fixing resolutions with assistance from the Lands Commission. He said rate payers the world over are encouraged to honour their tax obligations, once they realised a positive reflection of their payments in the development of their areas.

Mr Sarfo said supplementary valuations would be undertaken by the district offices in areas not covered and inaccessible during the exercise. He said the Land Valuation Division would continue to require the assistance of the MMDAs towards updating the valuation list with new and altered properties.

Mr Sarfo said replicating the exercise would be dependent on the success story adding that the World Bank would be monitoring the revenue mobilisation and performance of beneficiary districts. Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Kpando District Chief Executive, pledged to implement the recommendations of the revaluation exercise in order to derive the maximum benefits accruing from property tax. He commended the World Bank for their investment in the project.