Tax revenue is key to a Ghana beyond aid

By Samuel Akumatey/ Sumaiya Salifu Saeed, GNA

Ho, Nov. 24, GNA - Mr Roger Kuma, Assistant Commissioner, Ho Medium Tax Payers Office of the Ghana Revenue Authority, has said an efficient revenue collection system held the key to building a self-reliant economy.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the recently launched Tax Compliance Campaign, he said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of a Ghana beyond aid required that more work was done on tax revenue collection, thus the campaign.

Mr Kuma said constant sensitisation was the core of the campaign and that the National Commission on Civic Education was collaborating on the initiative to drive home the need to contribute taxes.

He said the economy depended on tax revenue so much that defaulters robbed those who paid as they all depended on the State’s facilities to sustain their businesses.

Mr Kuma said the GRA had modernised its business practices to facilitate “seamless operations” and had in 2014 rolled out a Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) which the Volta Region hooked on to in July this year.

He said although the Region was realising a growth in tax revenue, it was falling behind in its target for the year, and expressed optimism that the campaign would mop up revenue.

Mr Kuma said the campaign would train staff of the GRA and zone up catchment areas towards assigning specific officers to tackle issues.

He said a zonal list of defaulters and entities who did not file returns would also be populated while the Authority reviewed and updated its files for accuracy of positions on tax payments.

Mr Kuma warned against the act of falsifying documents to evade tax, which he said had heavy penalties attached and advised taxpayers to pay promptly towards reducing accumulated debts.

He said radio shows, floats, bulk messages through mobile networks and other sensitisation modes were being utilised in the sensitisation.

GNA

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