As part of an effort to boost revenue and enhance revenue collection, for the convenience of clients, the Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has introduced the Municipal Revenue Campaign under the Urban Governance leg of the Twin Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project.
The campaign, among others, seeks to build the capacity for city officials and rights holders, increase participatory and inclusive urban management strategies and improve mechanisms of accountability on the assembly’s digital payment channels.
Speaking at the workshop for media personnel on digital payment channels, the Public Relations Officer for the STMA, John Laste said the assembly is embarking on a series of sensitization drive to build public awareness on digital payments channels as well as educate and encourage clients to use the assembly’s digital channels. Mr. Laste further urged clients to use the assembly’s, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, USSD, code 422500# and 2222115# to make payments due to the assembly.
According to him, the introduction of digital channels will minimize human contact, reduce loopholes and promote accountability and transparency in the assembly’s internally generated fund.
“When it comes to revenue mobilization, we believe we can do better as some of the practices are not bringing in the needed revenue as expected. The introduction of the USSD shortcode will help to receive the expected money from the payers, and make sure to target the right people owing the Assembly,”
A senior budget analyst at the STMA, Fred Nyantakyie taking participants through the use of the short code, said the assembly can no longer count on resources from the Central government, hence the need to improve their Internally Generated Funds.
Mr Nyantakyie touching on some benefits of the digital payment channels said it is a payment method accessible to all, as revenue paid hits the assembly’s account directly, injecting transparency into the collection process, leading to an accountability audit trial.
He, however, cited leakages, high human interface, unreliable database, inadequate logistics for revenue staff, poor tracking of economic activities and inadequate education on municipal taxation as some of the challenges in the IGF mobilization process.
He therefore called on the right holders especially the media to use their various mediums to create the needed awareness to make the campaign a success.
