The Chamber of Local Governance (ChaloG) has raised serious allegations against the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for allegedly operating as a decoy to collect property rates into what appears to be a "government account." 

In a letter addressed to the Auditor General and dated Thursday, July 20, 2023, ChaloG brought this issue to the attention of the Ghana Audit Service.

Contrary to the widespread belief that the GRA has taken over the collection of Property Rate Taxes from Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies (MMDAs), ChaloG claims that it is a private company called "DCS" that the GRA is unlawfully acting on behalf of. 

According to their investigations, the electronic payments made by rate payers into the account "myassembly.gov.gh" actually go directly into the private accounts of DCS.

Furthermore, ChaloG alleges that DCS has been transferring payments amounting to the purported 70 percent of property tax monies collected for selected MMDAs into its own designated accounts without providing any payment advice to the MMDAs. 

Additionally, they discovered that DCS charges a 30 percent "commission" before transferring the remaining 70 percent share to the MMDAs and fails to pay any taxes to the state.

In light of these allegations, ChaloG is urging the Auditor General to conduct an audit in accordance with the law, as it appears that DCS is collecting and retaining government funds without proper authorisation.