Curbing revenue leakages: AMA introduces digitalised tax payment
“The new system is poised to bring about transformative changes in revenue collection and enable real-time tracking of transactions, reduce administrative bottlenecks and enhance the overall efficiency of revenue management processes.”
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA is implementing a digitalised system that will enable it to streamline revenue mobilisation, curb revenue leakages and improve efficiency in financial transactions.
It is programmed to generate SMS with a link to the registered phone numbers of taxpayers, who would then complete payment using their banks or mobile money.
Customers can also pay taxes by dialling *222*33# across all networks or using a QR code.
The Mayor of Accra, Madam Elizabeth K.T Sackey, disclosed this at a meeting with the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) on the implementation of the system.
The digitalise system will be piloted in the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan Area.
The Mayor said, “The new system is poised to bring about transformative changes in revenue collection and enable real-time tracking of transactions, reduce administrative bottlenecks and enhance the overall efficiency of revenue management processes.”
She noted that to implement the system successfully, there was the need to collaboration with GUTA and appealed to the business community to embrace the new system to stimulate the government’s digitalisation agenda.
Madam Sackey said the digitalised system would not change the rate but allow AMA officers to assist clients with payments.
The National Director of Welfare for GUTA, Mr Benjamin Yeboah, pledged the Association’s support for the scheme. He, however, asked for assurance of correct billing, friendliness of the digital payment platform, and security and integrity of financial transactions in the new system.
He appealed for a grace period to create room for more dialogue and education of the Association’s members to ensure the scheme runs smoothly.
