KMA descends on rate defaulters

Kumasi, Nov.17, GNA-The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has embarked on a court action to recover over 2.5 billion cedis property rates, fines, licences arrears owed it by manufacturing firms, commercial and professional institutions, individual business operators and house owners in the Metropolis.

Mr. Anthony Osei-Poku, KMA Solicitor, who disclosed this said timber firms and other manufacturing organisations, the Subin, Bantama and Manhyia sub-Metropolitan Councils, as well as financial institutions and private professionals in the Metropolis owed it 1.9 billion cedis. Briefing the Press on the issue in Kumasi on Friday, Mr.Osei-poku indicated that various licences, fees and other basic rates amounted to 621.2 million cedis.

He said apart from the fact that property owners, occupiers and operators of premises are aware of their responsibilities to pay their rates at the beginning of the year, the Assembly has also gone round with demand notices and publications imploring them to live up to their financial obligations, but many have failed to settle their indebtedness.

Mr. Osei-Poku said the Assembly has started with 120 cases and that, defaulters owing 100 million cedis and above have been sent to the High Court, whilst those with indebtedness ranging from 20 million cedis to below 100 million are being prosecuted at the Circuit Courts. =93Those who owe below 20 million cedis are being prosecuted at the District Courts=94, he added.

He stressed that since the Assembly has spent money to file the writs and paid statutory filing fees and the like, the Revenue Officers of the Assembly were not going to accept any payments from defaulters. =93All defaulters beginning from today, Friday November 26 are to pay and or settle their indebtedness at the Courts, depending on the level of their indebtedness, which invariably will include interests and costs=94, he said.