Amenfi Central NCCE Intensifies Public Education on Local Taxes and Levies

The Amenfi Central District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the District Budget Office and the Information Services Department, has launched a public education campaign to promote citizens' understanding of local taxes and levies and their importance to community development.

The outreach, undertaken through mobile van announcements and community sensitization in Nkakaa, Manso, and Hiawa, forms part of the Commission’s second-quarter civic education activities aimed at strengthening citizens' participation in local governance and development.

The campaign focused on key revenue sources for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), including Property Rate, Market Tolls, Building Permits, and Land Registration. Residents were educated on how these revenues contribute to the provision of essential public services and infrastructure such as roads, drainage systems, markets, and streetlights.

Addressing community members, the officers stressed that national development begins at the local level and that citizens have a shared responsibility to support the development of their communities through the payment of lawful taxes and levies.

"National development starts in our assemblies. When we pay our property rates, market tolls, and obtain the necessary permits, we contribute directly to the development of the roads, markets, drains, and other public facilities we use every day," the officers explained.

The NCCE noted that while many communities continue to demand improved infrastructure and public services, these developments cannot be achieved without adequate internally generated revenue by the Assemblies.

Residents were therefore encouraged to fulfill their civic responsibilities by assessing and paying their property rates, paying market tolls promptly while demanding accountability for the use of public funds, obtaining building permits before commencing construction, and registering their lands through the appropriate legal processes.

The Commission reaffirmed that responsible tax compliance and adherence to local government regulations are essential for sustainable development and improved service delivery at the community level.

The engagement forms part of NCCE's ongoing efforts to promote civic responsibility, strengthen local governance, and encourage active citizen participation in Ghana's development process.