Ho Assembly members petition OSP to investigate property rate revenue collected for GRA

Assembly Members of the Ho Municipal Assembly of the Volta Region have petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the collection and distribution of property rate revenues on behalf of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The petition also targets Digital City Solutions Limited (DCS), which manages the payment platform, myassembly.gov.gh, through which property rates are collected.

At a press conference in Ho, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. Mawunyo Agbe, explained that the Coalition of District Assembly Members (CODAM) is seeking a comprehensive investigation into what they alleged is the improper management of property rate revenues by GRA and DCS.

According to him, the coalition believes that these entities have engaged in actions that have financially weakened Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.

Citing resolutions passed by various Assemblies—including the Ho Municipal Assembly on September 14, 2023, and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly on July 31, 2023—Mr. Agbe highlighted that MMDAs have faced significant financial difficulties from 2023 to 2024 as a result of what he described as illegal actions by GRA and DCS.

He added that the situation has crippled the financial stability of these local bodies.

The Assembly Members are urging the Office of the Special Prosecutor to make the findings of the investigation public, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.

They emphasize that the financial challenges facing the MMDAs are urgent and require immediate attention, as the alleged mismanagement of property rate revenues has severely hindered the ability of these Assemblies to effectively serve their communities.

Ensuring proper management and equitable distribution of the collected revenues, they argue, is crucial for the effective operation of local governments and the well-being of the people they serve.