The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has questioned the Ghana Revenue Authority’s harassment of businesses under the guise of collecting taxes.
According to Dr Bawumia, the authority has been harassing businesses under the guise of tax collection to make up for targets set by them.
He voiced his concerns during a discussion with members of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, seeking their input as the manifesto committee develops ideas for the 2024 elections.
Dr. Bawumia attributed the current situation to the GRA’s practice of setting unrealistic targets for its officers, leading them to resort to taxing existing businesses excessively.
“They are harassing businesses. That harassment is coming from the sort of targets that are created at their office. They are setting unrealistic targets. And this is because the tax base is so narrow you say to them, this is your target for this month, and they are trying to figure out where do I go.
“Then for them, it is very easy, you go back to where you had it the last time. You go to taxpayers, the people who are already paying taxes, and then you have to come up with a new reason why they should pay more and so you come up with all sorts of stuff.”
Dr. Bawumia pledged to introduce a flat tax rate in 2025 and provide tax amnesty to all businesses upon assuming office.
‘Because of the harassment and the need to make money, we are going to start with a clean slate in 2025. And that is why in 2025, we are going to grant a tax amnesty to all businesses and individuals and start afresh.
“So we are going to start the new system, it’s a flat tax system so we are going to wipe the slate clean for every individual and business.”
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) condemned what they claim as “harassment of its members” by officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
In a press conference held in Accra, on October 3, 2023, the President of the association, Dr. Joseph Obeng claimed that the GRA has established a task force to intercept goods and cargo after they are cleared and this has become unbearable.
He said cargoes bound for the Ashanti region are mostly affected by this activity.
According to the GUTA President, this act is not a good look for the customs systems deployed at the country’s ports and goes a long way to derail trade facilitation.
He said, “GRA cannot assign any cogent reason for the harassment of the traders in the Ashanti region.”
The Ghana Union of Traders Association said they will no longer tolerate the interception of cargoes after they have left the port and other activities that frustrate the business climate in Ghana.