The Municipal Chief Executive for Ashaiman, Albert Boakye Okyere, has cautioned petty traders and other business owners in the municipality to pay levies to only the assembly’s accredited collectors or assignees.
He also advised them to always demand identity cards and receipts from any toll collector or assembly staff who visit their stalls, stores and businesses.
According to him, the assembly had received reports that some unscrupulous persons have been allegedly going round collecting market tolls and other levies from pretty traders and business owners.
Mr Okyere said although the assembly was on the alert to arrest these criminals, the business community in the municipality should also be on the lookout and report such persons to the nearest police station or staff of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA).
He added that Saturdays and Sundays were excluded from the paying of market tolls.
The Chief Executive gave the caution when he interacted with traders at the Ashaiman Main Market recently. The event formed part of ASHMA’s community engagement with various stakeholders.
He advised the traders and others business owners to visit the ASHMA’s client service desk to register their complaints for prompt redress or advice, explaining that district assemblies“are not only created to collect tolls and levies, but ensure the wellbeing of the local populace.
“Assemblies are to provide security, development and engage the citizenry through assembly members and staff,” he said.
The MCE therefore urged residents to partner the assembly to expedite development projects in the municipality.
According to him, even though Ashaiman has a huge population, that had been associated with trading and artisanship, it cannot boast of a single factory that could contribute significantly to its Internal Generated Fund (IGF).
“The municipality does not also have big businesses to shove up our IGF, therefore most of the assembly’s revenue comes from pretty traders, that is why it has become important to constantly engage them,” he said.
Madam Leticia Ayabah, queenmother of the Main Market Traders Association, contributing at the forum lauded the assembly for holding the forum.
She further bemoaned the activities of floating drivers who parked their vehicles anyhow within the business area and hawkers who also display and sell their wares on sidewalks.
Mr Okyere promised to deal with their concerns, saying that “already the assembly had recently deployed the newly formed City Response Teamto these areas and that the situation would soon besanitised.”