The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has strongly criticized the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for comments made on the indiscriminate collection of taxes by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from businesses.
According to IEAG, it is “quite surprising and worrying” for the vice president not to address this concern over the years despite several petitions from industry players.
”It is quite worrying and surprising to hear the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, coming out now to voice such concerns that have existed for several years with little or no attempt from his good office to address them despite several petitions from industry players.” IEAG stated.
It would be recalled that on March 20, while addressing members of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry at a forum to seek their input into his manifesto for the 2024 elections, Dr. Bawumia said GRA is harassing taxpayers and businesses and setting unrealistic targets for its officers.
“They are harassing businesses. That harassment is coming from the sort of target that are created at their office. They are setting unrealistic targets. And this is because the tax base is so narrow you say to them, this is your target for this month, and they are trying to figure out where do I go?
“Then for them, it is very easy, you go back to where you had it the last time. You go to taxpayers, the people who are already paying taxes and then you have to come up with a new reason why they should pay more and so you come up with all sorts of stuff,” Dr Bawumia said.
However, according to a release issued by the Executive Secretary of IEAG, Samson Asaki, Dr Bawumia’s recent stand is a “populist attempt to redeem his image in the eyes of the business community”.
IEAG further bemoaned the vice president for the fact that “he as a Vice president kept mute on this issue among other issues for the past 6 years failing to prompt the Ghana Revenue Authority on the need to change their modus of tax collection which has forced many businesses out of the country.”
The group is therefore entreating Dr. Bawumia to talk about what prevented him from “speaking against these bad practices by the GRA and as well the introduction of unreasonable taxes that have affected goods and services in the past 7 years.”
“Is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia now speaking on these matters because he wants power from the very people he betrayed when he promised to move the country from taxation to production? Has he now found his voice because elections are near and has to do something to improve his chances of becoming the next president?” IEAG questioned.
Source:myrepubliconline