Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has debunked claims by Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, that the Authority was allegedly using audit as an instrument to harass him.
The MP, in a viral video on social media, accused the GRA of harassment at a factory under construction, which is owned by him.
But the GRA has, in a statement issued on Monday, this week, denied the accusation, explaining that it has the mandate and in line with World Customs Organisation’s (WCO’s) guidelines can conduct such exercises regularly.
“The purpose of such audits are to measure and improve compliance whiles fine tuning controls. The factory in question, together with other companies, was 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.”
In the area of enforcement and compliance, the statement said GRA carries out invoice invigilation exercises to ascertain Value Added Tax (VAT) paid by VAT registered businesses.
The news release further indicated that 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.
In a follow up to compliance, in September 2022, invigilation exercises were intensified by GRA nationwide in order to enforce the issuance of VAT invoices and to encourage persons who buy goods and patronise services to demand for VAT invoices.
This exercise was very successful and GRA intends to scale up the invoice invigilation exercise from April 2023 as part of its revenue mobilisation efforts.
In carrying out all these enforcement and compliance activities, staff of GRA 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,” the statement said.
“Management wishes to use this opportunity to assure Kennedy Agyapong and all taxpayers of our readiness to receive complaints and feedback on our work as we 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.”
