GRA Denies Harassing Kennedy Agyapong

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has denied intimidating and harassing an aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership, Kennedy Agyapong.

In an interview, Kennedy Agyapong who is currently the Member of Parliament for Assin central, reportedly said the GRA wanted to station its personnel at his cold chain stores to supervise how much fish he sells daily.

He insinuated that the state institution was being used against his businesses to frustrate his presidential ambition and accused the Akufo-Addo-led government and the NPP of being behind it.

“Ghana Revenue Authority can never collapse my business because I will fight. I will fight for the youth because that steel plant alone will take 1000 workers,” he said according to Graphic Online.

But in a statement released by the GRA on March 13, it denied it was constantly harassing his businesses through unwarranted audits.

“We wish to clarify that as part of GRA’s mandate and in line with World Customs Organization’s (WCO’s) guidelines in ensuring adherence to best practices; such exercises are regularly conducted. The purpose of such audits, are to measure and improve compliance whiles fine tuning controls. The factory in question together with other companies were thus audited to check the value of goods imported and their intended use.”

It noted that aside the companies of the lawmaker, about 30 other companies were put through such risk-based activities in January and February 2023.

It added that in the area of enforcement and compliance, the Authority carries out invoice invigilation exercises to ascertain Value Added Tax (VAT) paid by VAT-registered businesses which entail stationing staff on the premises of VAT-registered businesses such as shops, restaurants and manufacturing sites to check the issuance of VAT invoices.

“In September 2022, invigilation exercises were intensified nationwide in order to enforce the issuance of VAT invoices and to encourage persons who buy goods and patronize services to demand for VAT invoices. This exercise was very successful and GRA intends to scale up the invoice invigilation exercise from April 2023 as part of its revenue mobilization efforts.”

Meanwhile, the Authority urged members of the public to report criminal acts by GRA officials for redress if any.

“Management wishes to use this opportunity to assure Honourable Kennedy Agyapong and all taxpayers of our readiness to receive complaints and feedback on our work as we partner to mobilise revenue for national development. We also wish to state that GRA remains committed to carrying out its mandate of revenue mobilization with integrity, fairness and utmost professionalism.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini