Tax education seminar ends in Wa

A tax education seminar to facilitate trade and improve upon revenue mobilisation for national development has ended in Wa in the Upper West Region.

The seminar, which attracted participants from the Shippers’ Council, importers/exporters, market women associations, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and security services, was meant to whip up interest in the regular payment of tax. It was organised by Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as part of activities marking this year’s tax education month on the theme: “Taxation as a key to Ghana’s development.”

Target

The Wa Sector Commander, Assistant Commissioner (AC) George Attah-Kruffie, said “the Customs Division of GRA in the UWR has a revenue target of GH¢2.310 million to collect. Without your co-operation, the target cannot be met. That is why we are here to educate you to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to meet the target on schedule.”

He advised importers to use approved entry points into the region to ensure that they honoured their tax obligations to ensure the development of the nation. The approved entry points are Tumu, Hamile and Chache.

Task force

The commander indicated that a regional task force would be deployed to intercept all vehicles and motorbikes that were not genuinely registered after one month of notice. 

“Those using uncustomed vehicles and motorbikes have been given a one-month window of opportunity to voluntarily go to the nearest Customs office to pay the duties involved. I wish to emphasise that no pecuniary penalty would be imposed during the one-month period,” he said.

 He asked them, as businessmen and women, to update their records and inform the GRA in writing of any difficulties they might have encountered, adding that they should “adhere to laid-down procedures, regulations and laws in the discharge of your business.”