Josiah
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has taken proactive measures to ensure a smooth launch of its new revenue payment system by engaging stakeholders and the business community in Accra.
This engagement, conducted at a meeting on Thursday, February 7th, at the Apostolic Reform Church of Ghana in Jamestown, aimed to ensure a clear understanding, support, and acceptance of the new revenue payment system among stakeholders. Participants included executives from transport unions, market leaders, representatives from financial institutions, the Ghana Hoteliers Association, pharmaceutical companies, and others.
The Mayor of Accra emphasized the importance of broad engagement on the new digital payment system and the incorporation of feedback. She stated that the introduction of the new system reflects the AMA’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and transparency in revenue collection operations. By involving stakeholders and businesses from the beginning, the Assembly aimed to solicit valuable feedback and garner support for the new system.
The Mayor highlighted that the new system is expected to improve accuracy in revenue collection, reduce transaction times, and enhance convenience for ratepayers. It will also provide better insights into revenue trends. Going digital is seen as vital in reducing revenue leakages and adopting a more technological approach to fee payment.
The engagement provided stakeholders with the opportunity to voice concerns, provide suggestions, and seek clarifications about the implementation of the new payment system. The President of the Greater Accra Market Association expressed optimism about the potential benefits, particularly in reducing bureaucracy and improving the overall business environment in Accra.
Addressing the need for education about the new payment system, stakeholders were encouraged to embrace the initiative wholeheartedly. A local trader expressed excitement about the convenience of paying Business Operating permit fees from the comfort of her home, emphasizing that the new arrangement would save time.
Key topics addressed during the meeting included technical specifications of the payment system, data security measures, and the timeline for rollout. The new system, to be piloted in the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan District, aims to streamline processes, prevent revenue leakages, and enhance efficiency in financial transactions throughout the metropolitan area. Clients will receive SMS notifications with links to access bills and complete payments through various channels, including banks, mobile money, or by dialing 22233# across all networks. Payments can also be made by scanning a QR code.
Source: Omanghana.com
