Minority MPs sue GRA, Finance Ministry over tax waivers for 42 companies

Three Minority Members of Parliament have sued the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Finance Ministry over plans to grant tax waivers to 42 companies under the 1-District -1- Factory Initiative.

The MPs are requesting that the Supreme Court suspend the tax waivers, arguing that they are not beneficial to the country.

The three MPs, Bernard Ahiafor (MP for Akatsi South), Kwame Agbodza (MP for Adaklu), and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP for Ellembelle), argue that the tax waivers are inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 174 of the 1992 Constitution, describing it as unconstitutional.

They are seeking the Supreme Court to declare it null, void and of no effect.

One of the plaintiffs, Bernard Ahiafor, is urging the Supreme Court to intervene for the sake of the country.

“It appears Article 174 of the Constitution is being violated, the Supreme Court is giving an exclusive jurisdiction to interpret, therefore, any citizen who is aggrieved that a particular portion of the Constitution is being contravened, the remedy available is to seek for interpretation and declaration at the Supreme Court which is the apex court.

“That is exactly what we have done in the circumstance, we’re seeking relief against the ones that are being implemented and the ones that are yet to be implemented,” he said.

The Ministry of Finance in 2021, began processes to secure approximately $335,072,712.13 tax exemptions for some 42 companies under the government’s One District One Factory initiative.

The Exemptions Act, 2022 (Act 1083) was laid in Parliament by the former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, in 2022.

Below is the full list of the forty-two companies awaiting to benefit from the exemptions, with newly established Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited having the highest figure of $164,633,012.00