Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister Mahama Ayariga has said the government will introduce a centrally controlled electronic system for collecting property rates to eliminate cash transactions.
Ayariga said the reform was necessary because the existing system had been undermined by inefficiencies and corruption.
“Our existing property rates regime is plagued by inefficiencies, inconvenience to property owners and outright corruption where monies paid end up in private pockets and don’t go to provide any service to the home owners and that’s why they will not pay,” he said furing Government Accountability Series on Monday.
He said the new system would remove cash collection at the local level, with property owners making payments electronically.
“We will roll out a centrally controlled mechanism for the collection of the rates which will totally take out cash collection,” Ayariga said.
Payments, he explained, would be made through mobile money platforms or electronic bank transfers.
“All payments will be electronic involving only MTN MoMo or any other MoMo platform and electronic bank transfers,” he said.
Ayariga said the government would also focus on improving service delivery in communities as a way of encouraging property owners to pay their rates.
He said residents would be more willing to comply when they could see their payments reflected in projects in their neighbourhoods.
“We will use persuasive means and that is for people to see that in their neighborhoods the roads are being fixed, the drains are being fixed, the greenery is being attended to by parks and gardens,” he said.
Ayariga said the system would also require fair valuation of properties and greater convenience for taxpayers.
“I believe in Ghanaians and I believe that they want to pay property rates, but you need to make it convenient for them and you need to be fair in the valuation of the assets,” he added.
