The Cape Coast Branch of the Ghana Revenue Authority has launched its tax and good governance week with a call on all taxpayers to ensure to pay all their returns on time so as to help government mobilize funds for national development.
The week-long programme is geared towards enhancing tax compliance, with a focus on the filing of income tax returns and also their compliance measures being undertaken by the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Following the launch, tax clinics have been opened at various taxpayers service centre within the region to aid in the filing and payment of taxes.
Speaking to ATLFM NEWS on the sidelines of the launch, head of the Cape Coast North Taxpayer Service Centre for GRA, Madam Esther Kraku stated that tax payment is a requirement of every citizen and hence, it is critical that everyone pays their taxes so the country achieves its desired development.
“We need money for development and seeing that COVID has ravaged most economies and Ghana wants to go beyond aid, there is the need for everybody to come on board so that together we can mobilize the revenue that we need for the development of our nation,” she stated.
She adds that a new system has been developed to ensure the smooth and easy filing of tax returns online, and that everyone should endeavor to use it.
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“So in our bid to get our tax payers to voluntarily comply, we have tried to facilitate the filing and payment of taxes so you can download our taxpayer’s app and then through there, you can file and pay your taxes at the comfort of your home or your office,” she indicated.
On his part, the Cape Coast Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anthony Pokoo-Aikins indicated that his outfit plays an important role in terms of revenue generation in the country, hence he assured his outfit’s continuous support in the payment of tax.
He said, “We are here as partners to GRA to support the government to realize the domestic mobilization to help fix some challenges in the nation. We are happy and just to say a word, we assure GRA of the support of the entire regional business community towards their endeavors”.
He however urged GRA to do away with the old narrative of only prioritizing collecting monies from taxpayers but to work collectively with his outfit to ensure that they also benefit from all the taxes that are been paid so as to encourage them to continue to pay taxes as required.
Cape Coast Metro Director of Education, Madam Brenda Dorcas Asare commended the authority for their efforts in ensuring taxes are paid as required.
She emphasized that it was good that the Authority holds such programs to educate people about the need to pay taxes because some citizens do not still understand the importance of paying taxes so she indicated that through education people become abreast about the tax laws so they confidently pay taxes knowing that nobody is cheating them.
Source: Emmanuella Ama Gyamfi/ATLFMNEWS
