AMA to Lock Up Businesses Over Unpaid Permit Fees and Property Rates

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced that it will begin a revenue enforcement exercise on Monday, June 22, targeting businesses and property owners who have not paid their Business Operating Permit (BOP) fees, property rates, and rent owed to the Assembly.

According to the AMA, the exercise is aimed at improving revenue collection and ensuring compliance with the Assembly’s revenue laws and regulations.

The Assembly stated that businesses and properties with outstanding payments will be locked up and temporarily closed until all arrears are fully settled.

The enforcement exercise will be conducted by authorised officers of the Assembly with support from relevant enforcement agencies.

AMA has therefore urged business operators and property owners who owe fees, rates, or rent to make payments immediately to avoid interruptions to their activities.

To make payments easier, the Assembly noted that property rates can be paid using the shortcode 22255#, while Business Operating Permit fees can be paid through 22233#.

The Assembly reminded residents and business owners that paying property rates, permit fees, and rent is a legal obligation and an important source of funding for public services.

According to AMA, the revenue collected helps support infrastructure development, sanitation projects, public health programmes, and other key services within the metropolis.

The Assembly also warned that individuals and businesses that fail to comply could face penalties under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), as well as relevant Assembly by-laws.

AMA called on all ratepayers to cooperate with the exercise, stressing that effective revenue collection is necessary to build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient city.