The Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Kofi Nti has asked the media to use their platforms to educate the public on taxation and other revenue issues.
This will go a long way to create the needed awareness on the payment of taxes and increase revenue collection for the development of the country.
He made the appeal at a two-day training workshop for members of the private newspaper publishers association in Koforidua.
The workshop organised by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), for members of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), was to equip them with the knowledge on issues relating to payment of taxes.
This will enable them support the tax authorities to bring more people on board the tax net.
Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour indicated that the inability of government to widen the tax net has hindered development of the country.
He observed that the media is becoming an active agent of development through their various collaboration with key stakeholders in the country hence the need to engage them on issues geared towards the development of the country.
The Commissioner General of Ghana Revenue Authority Kofi Nti made mention the enforcement of the Taxpayer Identification Number as a requirement for transacting business and affixing of excise tax stamp on specified excisable products as some of the strategies the authority has adopted to improve on the payment of taxes.
He also pointed out that the free SHS policy adopted by government is an investment to increase revenue collection in the future.
President of PRINPAG, Edwin Arthur said there is the need for tax officers to be motivated to prevent them from engaging in corruption.
He advised media practitioners to focus on well researched stories that will help attract readership and listernership.
