Offices of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), MTN, Vodafone, Glo, and Espresso within the Ga South Municipal Assembly all face imminent closure over their refusal to pay their property rates.
The respected companies, who have been making huge profits at the expense of the Ghanaian consumer, have been dragged to court by the Ga South Municipal Assembly for refusing on the part of the former to pay property rate to the Assembly. These companies owe in excess of GHc47,000.
The companies were dragged to court following their refusal to honour their property rate commitments even after the Assembly had used every possible means to get their monies.
These companies will be forced to stop operating within the Ga South Municipality if they don’t take immediate steps to clear all the arrears.
Franchise fee and Business Operating Permit fees are some of the responsibilities for any company that operates within the jurisdiction of the Ga South Municipal Assembly.
“Property rates are actually collected in March but we gave these companies enough time considering that it was too early in the year and most companies had now started their operations for the year so we give companies enough time to pay,” Ben Tabi, the Municipal Prosecutor hinted, adding that ECG, MTN, Vodafone, Glo, Expresso and some individuals have virtually refused to pay their rates.
According to him, the Assembly authorities have exhausted all available, amicable ways to let them know the intensity of the matter but all to no avail.
“We served them notice to pay but they refused to pay so we resorted to the court to take back our monies,” the Prosecutor added.
Ben Tabi said that the decisions to take these companies to court is meant to serve as a deterrent to other companies and individuals who are refusing to pay their debts. The case is currently before the City Engineers Court awaiting ruling.
Source: GhanaWeb
