The Bolagatanga Taxpayer Service Centre of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has applauded customers of its catchment area for proactively fulfilling their civic responsibilities, by paying their taxes regularly and promptly for the first half of the year.
This was disclosed by the Bolgatanga TSC Manager, Bismark Shaibu Mahama, in an interview with our GBC URA Radio Correspondent Emmanuel Akayeti in Bolgatanga, Capital of the Upper East Region. Mr Mahama explained that GRA is partnering government together with the taxpayer to make the country a better place and citizens who understand and appreciate their duties and responsibilities are ready to move the nation forward as a people.
He stated that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected businesses so hard last year to date, that notwithstanding, a response of taxpayers to their civic responsibility this year has been very encouraging and hopes it continues to the close of the year. Every now and then he said people are turning up to pay their taxes.
Regarding the effect of COVID-19 on businesses, Mr Mahama indicated that some were badly hit while others, somehow but “businessmen never die”. He said some have banks supporting their businesses because they were partners before the COVID-19 pandemic, others to relatives who are well established are behind them.
He added that GRA’s prayer is that businesses should thrive well so the citizens can continue to exercise their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes. Mr Mahama further gave an insight of the need and relevance of tax payments as citizens saying, the income tax law admonishes everyone such employees, self-employed, companies and partnership are all enjoined to file their tax returns once they earn some income.
Upon filing these returns he added that they are also entitled to some reliefs and GRA too will get to the legitimate income earned by the good people of Ghana and tax them accordingly.
Story filed by: Emmanuel Akayeti
