Freetown City Council to enforce payment of municipal licenses
As a local government institution, the Freetown City Council has various development projects it undertakes to complement the efforts of the central government in trying to positively transform the socio-economic landscape.
In order, to successfully embark on the various development projects, FCC generates funds in different ways. One of those means is the collection of local taxes, which should be paid by all adults residing within the Metropolis.
Another important source of generating the much needed revenue is through the compulsory owners of business licenses by operators or owners of business enterprises. Speaking to the Head of License officer of FCC, Mr. Sima Conteh, he intimated that a grace period of some months is given to a new business enterprise adding that after that period they do embark on strict enforcement to ensure compliance. “According to our bye-laws, enforcement for compliance to pay license fees actually starts in April but because of certain constraints, we will fully begin next week,” Mr. Conteh disclosed. He maintained that for those business owners who fail to comply, FCC enforcement officers will be left with no option but to close down their outlets using padlocks.
He further stated that they just do not impose license fees candously but first assess the business enterprise to determine its value. “The value and worth of the business will determine the category of license the owner should pay,” he outlined, furthering “that to maintain strict transparency FCC officials do not make face to face collection of monies as payments are made directly to specific banks.”
He concluded that some people deliberately refuse to make payments and pointed out strictly that council will leave no stone unturned to ensure compliance.
He also said he wants to use this medium to make a special appeal to all business owners to comply instead of waiting for the sledgehammer of council to fall on them.
By Kuria Mansaray
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