The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku says every Ghanaian has a role to play if Ghana will be a developed country or better place which is the expectation of all Ghanaians. To make this a reality, he entreated Ghanaians to honour their tax obligations.
Mr. Chinnia said the world over taxation is the tool which countries rely on to mobilize revenue to develop their economies.
The Deputy Minister indicated that in order to enable government meet the legitimate demands of people, it is imperative for all to contribute and raise enough revenue domestically so as to avoid the stringent conditionalities attached to loans and grants from development partners.
Mr. Issahaku was speaking at the Launch of the 2019 Tax and Good Governance Week Programme in the Upper West Regional capital, Wa.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as the institution mandated by law to mobilize revenue for national development, it has put in strategies to ensure that businesses and individuals who are supposed to register and file their tax returns do so.
The tax and good governance week therefore seek to remind and educate all categories of persons on the importance of filing of tax returns and payment of taxes.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku noted that the revenue mobilization in the country has not kept pace the growingowing demands of the citizens for development projects and better services from government.
This he said creates deficits that compel government to continue borrowing or seeking support from donor partners.
He said Ghana as lower middle income country, concessional loans and support from development partners have reduced creating the necessity for government to rely on domestic resources for development and appeal to all income earners to pay their taxes.
Mr. Chinnia said government has declared a tax amnesty to enable taxpayers register, file returns and make outstanding tax payments for previous years without the imposition of interest and penalties and waving prosecution of tax offenders as required by law.
These interventions he said are aimed at ensuring voluntary compliance by the taxpayers.
The Acting Wa Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Kwasi Dokpoe announced that GRA has developed an online platform called the Integrated Tax Application and Preparation System (iTaPS) to enable taxpayers file their returns electronically at the comfort of their homes and work places.
Mr Dokpoe pointed out that GRA in 2017 launched of national tax campaign on voluntary compliance which was very successful and that the launch of this year’s Tax and Good Governance Week Programme is to up the game on the successes chalked up.
The Wa Sector Commander pointed out that in order not to lose the made in 2017,the Ministry of Finance is collaborating with the GRA to sustain the campaign through the “Tax Week”.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo & Dennis Bebane
