The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has denied allegations that its officials have been harassing businesses belonging to Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central.
According to the Authority, the allegations of an unjustified audit of the MP’s companies’ accounts are false. It clarified 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 GRA noted that 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.
“Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has sighted a recording of a media interview by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central constituency, Honorable Kennedy Agyapong circulating on social media in which he accused GRA Officials of constant harassment through unwarranted audits of his companies. GRA wishes to categorically refute the specific allegation of harassment at a factory under construction owned by the MP.”
Ghana Revenue Authority
Contained in a statement signed by the Communications and Public Affairs officer of the GRA, Mrs Florence Asante, it disclosed that in January and February 2023, about thirty of such risk-based activities were carried out on a number of businesses. Additionally, it explained that in the area of enforcement and compliance, GRA carries out invoice invigilation exercises to ascertain Value Added Tax (VAT) paid by VAT registered businesses.
“These exercises entail stationing staff on the premises of VAT registered businesses such as shops, restaurants and manufacturing sites to check the issuance of VAT invoices.”
Ghana Revenue Authority
Furthermore, in September 2022, the Authority stated that 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, it highlighted, was very successful and GRA intends to scale up the invoice invigilation exercise from April 2023 as part of its revenue mobilization efforts.
GRA committed to maintaining its integrity
In carrying out all these enforcement and compliance activities, the Authority noted that its staff have been advised to remain professional and act at all times with integrity as required by the Authority’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.
“We therefore encourage any member of the public who has evidence of any alleged corrupt practice by an official of the Authority to report such criminal acts to the Management of GRA on 0800-900-110 for redress.”
Ghana Revenue Authority
Owing to the professional nature of its dealings, management of GRA assured Honorable Kennedy Agyapong and all taxpayers of its readiness to receive complaints and feedback on its work as it partners to mobilize 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.”
Ghana Revenue Authority
It will be recalled that Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central and a New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, on March 13, 2023, claimed his businesses are under attack as a result of his decision to run for President. He revealed that state institutions are frustrating and intimidating him in his quest to lead the NPP in the 2024 NPP elections.
Kenndey Agyapong emphasized that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the right things are done.
Mr Agyapong has spoken against the NPP choosing either Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia or former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen as its candidate for the presidential election, insisting that will lead to defeat in the 2024 election.
According to him, the party needs a clean and honest person like himself as a candidate to win the next election. In his view, anyone who has been part of the incumbent government is not fit to represent the party in the presidential election because of the bad record of the government in managing the country’s economy.
