The Accra Central Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have picked up branch managers of shopping centers in Accra for some tax infractions at their various branches.
Over the course of a four (4) day exercise, the Ghana Revenue Authority has pursued managers of shopping centers in Accra who have failed to comply with some tax requirements in their services as directed by the authority.
The Branch managers of Koala Shopping Center in Osu and Cantonments, that of Max Mart Shopping Center at 37 and Cantonments, and the manager of Palace Shopping Mall at Labone were all picked up on Thursday morning.
The exercise was led by Mr Joseph Annan, Manager of Enforcement Unit at the Accra Division of the GRA. He addressed the media after the exercise and pointed out that the managers would face separate charges.
“The infractions are many and varied. So it depends on the manager and the case that will be built against that particular shop. They are different shops at different branches. You could even have the same company but the infraction is different because they are happening at various locations”, said the GRA manager.
“Each case is being looked at separately from the others. Koala, the Osu branch for non-issuance of e-vat invoice. And the same offense at Cantonments. Max Mart also had the same offense. For Palace Shopping Mall they were duplicating signatures”, Mr Annan added.
These managers are likely to face certain sanctions for their non compliance and the maximum penalty that can be applied is Gh1500.00 at Gh12.00 per penalty unit and the imprisonment that can be levied on any of them is a maximum of 5 years per the VAT Acts and the Revenue Administration Acts.
Mr Annan gave a word of caution to business owners to ensure that they implement the right practices to avoid such actions against them “We are not comfortable arresting tax payers, but then if you push us to the wall, that is what would happen. Because, first we give education. Secondly, we try to persuade you voluntarily to comply.
He added that “But then when all these tools fail, then the ultimate is enforcement. That is when you see us with our preventive guys. In order to prevent these things from happening to you. Do the right thing, be a good citizen so that we all have less stress. But if the job demands it, we have to.”
In conclusion, the Manager of Enforcement Unit made it clear that these cases will be given the needed attention for them to run fast before the courts.
“We are all looking forward to getting these cases to the courts as early as possible. Like we always do, we have picked up the managers of these branches for questioning and we will take their statements. That will be done by the CID and definitely that will be followed by investigations. Once investigations are done, a docket will be put together and our legal unit will continue with the process and we are looking forward to seeing some of them in court.
