President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the Office of Minister of State at the Local Government Ministry, Osei Bonsu Amoah has justified the decision to partner with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to collect property rates.

Experts have criticised government and the district assemblies for failing to employ modern methods to utilise what they have said is a massive revenue handle.

But some people are not happy with the GRA partnership. Their concern is that it stifles the district assemblies.

However, answering questions at his vetting, on Tuesday, the Akuapem South MP said the arrangement is the best way to effectively collect the property rates.

He added that the reform with GRA is “to bring in certain dynamism which should let us reap so much from property rate.”

The property rate, according to him, is supposed to be one of government’s major revenue streams.

“….That GRA should assist the assemblies to collect property rate and a certain shared ratio agreed upon, and indeed, this House passed the budget. It is one of the revenue streams,” he said.

He noted that there have been complaints from the Finance Ministry that the revenue raked in from property rate administration is ‘disappointing’.

Meanwhile, he noted that property rate is supposed to be one of government’s major revenue streams.

“If you look at our Constitution, under 240 – as one of the pillars of decentralisation, it says that the assemblies should have a financial base with reliable and sustainable revenue, and if you look at the sources of revenue for the assembles, property rates and collection is supposed to be a major source of revenue.

“Indeed, the assemblies have not been able to meet the required level, some as low as you think of and they have their own challenges – the mode of collection and enforcement arrangement,” he explained.