The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has rubbished allegations made by the Member of Parliament for Assin Central Constituency in the Central Region, Kennedy Agyapong, that its officials have constantly been harassing businesses belonging to him.
GRA stated categorically that the claims by the vociferous NPP MP are false and must be treated with the contempt it deserves.
The rebuttal comes after Mr. Kennedy Agyapong had in a radio interview on Kumasi-based Sompa FM claimed the GRA has deliberately targeted two of his companies (a steel plant project and his existing cold store business) due to his out-spoken traits as well as his bid to contest the NPP flagbearership position.
“GRA can never shut down my business because I’ll battle. Because that steel plant alone will require 1000 workers, I will campaign for the youth.
“…And you are going there because Kwame Agyapong is loudmouthed, because he wants to contest so you will destroy my business?” Mr Agyapong quizzed as quoted.
However, the GRA in a statement issued by its Assistant Commissioner in charge of Communications and Public Affairs, Florence Asante, debunked the allegations and explained that its officials have been carrying out their mandate in accordance with World Customs Organization Guidelines to ensure adherence to the best practices.
“GRA wishes to categorically refute the specific allegation of harassment at a factory under construction owned by the MP. We wish to clarify 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.”
According to the Authority, the purpose of such audits is to “measure and improve compliance while fine-tuning controls” and added that the factory in question together with other companies were thus audited to check “the value of goods imported and their intended use.”
“We wish to disclose that in January and February 2023, about thirty (30) of such risk-based activities were carried out on a number of businesses. Furthermore, 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.” the statement stressed.
To this end, management of the GRA assured Kennedy Agyapong, all well-meaning Ghanaians and taxpayers of their readiness to receive complaints and feedback on its work as they partner to mobilise 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” the statement concluded.
