U-Fresh Company Limited and Vegetable & Supermarket, both managed by Chinese nationals, have been put under lock and key by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for failing to comply with the country’s tax regime.
The Authority locked up U-Fresh and Vegetable & Supermarket because they were not cooperating with the enforcement team when it visited their premises at Spintex and Osu respectively.
The Authority swooped on these companies and seven others – Computer Land, Sulas, Emelijo, Mahalia Kollections, Naa Amoah, Peva’s Mother Care and Divine Organic Hub – while conducting their busy daily operations.
Six of nine managers of these businesses were arrested by the GRA, and the others were invited to report to the Authority’s office.
The Head of Accra Central Enforcement Unit of the GRA, Joseph Annan, told journalists in an interview that the exercise formed part of their enforcement routine to ensure tax compliance.
He said most of the companies, although registered with the Authority, were issuing their own invoice. The defaulting companies were discovered through test buying, where officers of the authority after purchasing were given non-tax receipts.
“We have been to two Chinese outlets, and the challenge is almost the same. We did not get enough records and it is deliberate, and more-so whatever it is there is in Chinese. In fact, we have picked them up. The CID is going to take their statements. While we get hold of their records we are going to get it translated at their own cost.”
Others like Mahalia Kollections were engaged in selective issuance. The companies were swooped at Osu, La Wireless, and Lashibi.
