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Business News of Friday, 24 October 2014

Source: GNA

TMA, KKDA agree to share disputed boundary revenue

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA) have temporarily agreed to share revenue generated from their disputed boundary areas.

According to the agreement, the TMA would collect the revenue and share it with KKDA on 60:40 basis, Mr Mohammed A. Yakubu, Coordinating Director of KKDA, has said.

TMA and KKDA are said to have lost huge revenue over the past three years as companies located within the boundary corridor have not paid rates to any of the assemblies.

The KKDA was carved out of the TMA but since then the two assemblies have had a bitter disagreement on where to place their boundary pillars.

Mr Yakubu told Assembly members at the KKDA's third general meeting that Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, suggested the arrangement at a meeting held on the issue recently.

He said Nii Laryea Afoto-Agbo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, had written to KKDA informing it of his endorsement for TMA to collect the revenue and share the proceeds with them on 60: 40 basis.

Mr Yakubu expressed the displeasure of the KKDA on the arrangement and sought explanation from the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for the Kpone-Katamanso.

He suggested that the Minister must meet with the two parties to check their bills before the collection and sharing of the revenue to ensure fairness.

He said the directive would empower TMA to encroach further on its lands.

Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo responded that he gave that directive after careful consideration and some consultations.

The Minister said the directive was aimed at generating revenue for the two Assemblies even as deliberations are ongoing to solve the dispute.

According to him, companies within the boundary corridor were taking advantage of the situation to avoid paying their rates.

He urged the KKDA to be vigilant and monitor activities of the TMA in the revenue collection adding that the directives did not mandate TMA to enter KKDA area.

Alhaji Antiaye Tetteh, Kpone-Katamanso District Chief Executive, reading the Executive Committee report said it has been recommended that KKDA should pursue TMA to pay back some building and business operating permits it collected.

Alhaji Tetteh said TMA collected GH¢ 80,000 as building permit from UT Properties at Saasabi, GH¢ 26,000 property rate and GH¢ 34,000 business operating permit from Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) and the Kpone Landfill site.

He said those monies were paid wrongfully to TMA by the companies.