Tax Justice Coalition (TJC) a civic organization has appealed to all stakeholders in the tax administration bracket to honor their tax obligation for an accelerated economic development.
According to the coalition the payment of tax by citizens will help government mobilize enough money for the country’s development.
The appeal came at a Ghana tax dialogue public forum on tax compliance and responsibility in Tamale. The forum is part of the Ghana tax dialogue project being undertaken by the coalition with support from Oxfam to increase tax compliance and responsibility by citizens and cooperate organizations operating in Ghana.
It brought together stakeholders from the five regions of the north to dialogue and deliberate on the need for citizen to pay tax and to also hold authorities accountable. chairman of the TJC, Vitus Azeem outlined some of the challenges confronting workers in the taxation system.
Giving a presentation at the forum, a principal revenue officer at GRA Abu Nurudeen warned the public to refrain from attacking tax officers in the course of duty as monies collected are for national development.
He reminded tax payers to visit the GRA client service desk to have their issues discussed rather than to attack revenue officers. He said citizens must pay their tax to achieve the Presidents’ agenda of ‘Ghana Beyond aid’.
A Fiscal Policy specialist at Oxfam Dr. Alex Ampaabeng said government can achieve the goal of ‘Ghana beyond aid’ if citizens pay their tax. Paying tax is considered a civic duty, although doing so is also a requirement of law. He has therefore reminded government to focus on protecting the public purse.
BY: LILIAN D. WALTER
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