The Liberal Party of Ghana – a political party in the 2020 general elections has called on officials of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and other relevant state institutions to compel religious organizations especially churches to start filling their annual tax returns and to cause the punishment of those organizations which flout the rules.
This was contained in a release issued by the party on Monday April 19, 2021 and signed by its National Communications Director, Samuel Afriyie-Owusu. The release was copied to all Media Houses, the Auditor General, the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Economic and Organized Crimes Office (EOCO).
It said although religious organizations are registered as companies limited by Guarantee and are not supposed to engage in any business with the objective of making profit, some churches and religious organizations are engaged in the business of selling religious merchandise, charging consultation fees, and making huge profits in return.
The release backed its argument with section 15 of the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) which states that “religious organizations through their executive councils shall cause accounting records to be kept and financial statements to be prepared, Audited and circulated in accordance with section 127-137 of the Act.”
It further entreated all relevant institutions to collaborate and ensure that all religious organizations comply with these regulation.
Per the release, the LPG believes that a strict compliance with the act will check the situation where some pastors and religious leaders acquire unaccountable wealth and property by subtly engaging in profitable commercial activities and suspected money laundering under the guise of operating religious organizations.
Read full release below:
By Nelson Ayivor || ghananewsonline.com.gh