The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has come under heavy criticism for its “radical and rambo style” modus operandi in the discharge of some of its duties.
Critics say the GRA can be likened to a terrorist organization that scares business people just at the mention of the organisation’s name or the presence of its officials at the premises of businesses.
This is the verdict on the operations of the revenue authority by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanbic Bank, Dr. Alhassan Andani who was speaking at the 2024 Ghana CEO Presidential Gala Dinner on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
Dr. Alhassan Andani explains that the GRA has been inimical to some CEOs in Ghana due to the violent and chaotic means of checking and collecting taxes from businesses.
“GRA has become a terrorist organization. I know a number of organizations when GRA gets into their space, and it’s as if they deliberately do it in order to force people’s arms to take money. For most of the CEOs when GRA is coming, it’s like a terrorist is coming. It is supposed to be you file what you projected to do in the year and you are paying tax quarterly. They just come and slap stuff on you,” the former Stanbic Bank chief narrated.
He further reiterated the unfriendly and inimical nature of the tax administration in the country as he says its stifling business growth and development.
The numerous taxes and their complicated nature, he says are part of the struggles of the private sector in Ghana. He is therefore calling for thorough reforms in the country’s tax administration to make them more private-sector friendly.
“If we come in with any new tax measures, we don’t simplify and merge and delete some taxes. The last time, I was speaking to a business, they had 33 different taxes. We just have to rationalize it and give these very emerging private sector people time to breathe so that you can at least continue to tax them.”
