The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has given an ultimatum to businesses and individuals operating in the Metropolis, to pay up all outstanding permit fees on or before July 31.

Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive who issued the ultimatum during a media briefing, said “this press conference is meant to sound a warning to all businesses and individuals operating in the Tema Metropolis, to as a matter of urgency pay up all their outstanding permit fees on or before 31st July, 2014.

Any company or individual business interest which will be found not to have paid after this period would be made to pay a 30 per cent penalty of their original bills,” he stressed.

He added that the Assembly would by August 1st, constitute a special Task Force to go round to all companies to inspect either their Business Operating Permit Certificates or receipts evidencing payments to the Assembly. The MCE indicated that his outfit shall take further steps to lock up some companies, or resort to legal action to enforce payment.

Mr Odamtten lamented the unwillingness of some companies and individuals to fulfill their civic responsibilities of paying their taxes and permit fees. He noted that the Assembly has earmarked some major developmental projects it intends to undertake, adding that “all these cannot materialize if we are not able to generate the much needed revenue”.

On general revenue generation, he stated that the Assembly has reviewed its approach to revenue collection, and had also embarked on re-zoning instead of the previous method of collection.

According to him, as part of measures to improve the revenue stream, his administration has critically examined the revenue inflows in the past, and noticed some flaws which allowed notable companies to operate without paying the necessary Business Operating Permit, as well as property rate.

Mr Odamtten said as a measure to plug the revenue loopholes, his outfit introduced the Zonal system where the Metropolis was divided into five zones and subsequently awarded to Revenue Contractors. He explained that Assembly’s revenue staffs were still working in areas where the private revenue collectors were not operating.