Story: Rahamatu-Lahi Zakaria || Sanatu Zambang Newsroom
On the 16th of December, 2019 Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly held its maiden edition of the Annual Revenue Appraisal forum on the theme ‘’ Sitting on Gold and begging for copper, Sagnarigu beyond aid.’’
The forum was an open discussion on how Assembly generates money to carry out developmental projects in the municipality and also to account to the citizens what their tax is used for. The forum was also to encourage citizens to pay their taxes and end tax apathy to widen the revenue net of the municipality.
The MCE for the area, Hajia Mariam Iddrisu assured the people that, their money does not go directly into her pocket. She made this statement to clear the notion that, tax paid by citizens are not channeling to the right place.
‘’When money gets to the assembly, it goes directly into the assembly coffers, it doesn’t go into my pocket unless the official in charge of collecting the money does not bring it to the office.’’
She continues as saying that, to achieve the president vision of Ghana beyond aid, citizens needed to be proactive in honoring their tax duties. She hopes that Sagnarigu leads that in all the assemblies in the country in achieving ‘’Sagnarigu beyond aid’’.
The MCE believes they can achieve Sgnarigu beyond aid if all were to honor their tax obligations.
The forum which is supported by Norsaac and Oxfam has already done been in the Zabzugu municipality brought up great suggestions from citizens of the area to help the assembly widen its revenue net. One of such idea was that citizens agreed that, the scholarship that the assembly awards should use parents’ tax receipts as one of the criteria.
To encourage taxpaying among the electorate, the MCE said starting from 2020, scholarship students will be asked to bring tax receipt of their parents before they can be granted scholarship. This she says will encourage the people to pay their tax and help the assembly to reach Sagnarigu beyond aid just like the vision of the President.
Some taxpayers urge the assembly to apply a minimum of force to collect tax because they also will get tired of paying if others do not pay. While others also suggested that, religious leaders should add tax payment to their sermon so as to encourage their congregation to honor their tax obligations.
Mrs. Kausada Abubakari, a representative of Norsaac reiterated Norsaac mission of empowering women and the youth and hence the reason for supporting this exercise. The exercise she says, if citizens know what their money is used for, they will become proactive in honoring their tax duty which will intend to help the assembly to carry out projects that are beneficial to their target.
