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The government is set to introduce a digital platform for property rate collection as part of efforts to strengthen the internally generated revenue base of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced the proposed reforms on Monday, October 5, during the Government Accountability Series.
According to the Minister, the new system will integrate property rate collection with mobile money platforms while consolidating property and spatial data from relevant national institutions.
The move is expected to improve revenue mobilisation and ensure that statutory property rates owed by property owners are fully captured.
Mr Ayariga explained that the digital system would also help reduce loopholes associated with the current collection process, particularly partial payments and unnecessary intermediaries.
“Digital systems will reduce opportunities for partial payments and unnecessary intermediaries, while strengthening transparency and ensuring that the State captures the full statutory rates due,” he said.
The Minister said the reform forms part of broader efforts to improve the financial capacity of local assemblies and make revenue collection more transparent and efficient.
Under the proposed system, property information from different national institutions will be consolidated to create a more comprehensive database for property rate administration.
The integration is expected to make it easier for authorities to identify properties, assess applicable rates and track payments.
Mr Ayariga also indicated that a substantial portion of the revenue generated through property rates would be reinvested in local infrastructure projects.
These could include roads, streetlights, pavements and drainage systems within communities.
The government believes improved property rate collection could therefore provide MMDAs with additional resources to address infrastructure needs without relying heavily on central government transfers.
The Minister further said the reforms could eventually create a stronger foundation for municipal financing mechanisms, including municipal bonds where appropriate.
The proposed digital platform is part of the government’s broader push to modernise revenue collection and strengthen the financial independence of local authorities.
If successfully implemented, the system could provide assemblies with better data, improved payment tracking and a more reliable source of internally generated revenue for local development.
