Without their support, the assemblies will not be able to generate enough funds to beef up Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to improve livelihoods and attract investments.

Naa Adukwei Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West, who made the call, appealed to residents to pay their property rates to raise enough money to finance projects and recurrent expenditure.

“As citizens we need to be responsible to pay our property rate, building permit and business operating permit, to be able to help the assemblies mobilise funds to engage in developmental project because revenue generated from rates, taxes and permits is collected annually as part of IGF for development of social amenities, local services and infrastructure at the local level.

“Assemblies cannot continue to depend on the District Assembly Common Fund for their activities because our hope of becoming one of the best municipalities is largely dependent on how much internal revenue we can generate so we need the support and assistance from residents by being responsible,” Ms Addo entreated.

She explained that the Tema West Municipal had undertaken several initiatives to improve health, education and security to ensure progress, growth and development of the municipality since she took office in October 2021.

Ms Addo highlighted completion of two-storey classroom blocks at Adjei Kojo Basic School and Star Basic School in community five respectively, and Kanewu Police Station and handed over to the Municipal Police Commander.

She revealed that the Assembly would soon initiate innovative ways in revenue mobilisation which residents would not shirk their responsibility to support so as to assist the assembly to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones in areas of health, education, security and sanitation for Tema West.

Ms Addo asked the media to help educate and sensitise Ghanaians on the importance of paying rates, taxes and levies to enhance socioeconomic development and improve livelihoods.