By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, April 25, GNA – Dr. Martin Kolbil Yamborigya, Acting Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has urged Ghanaians to comply with tax obligations as part of efforts to drive national development.
He said the Government relied on tax revenue to fund development projects, stressing that citizens must be diligent in filing and paying their taxes as required by law.
The Acting Commissioner was speaking during a float to round up activities on the annual Tax and Good Governance Month which was organised every April in Accra.
The float, which began at the GRA Head Office, moved through the Ministries enclave, Tema Station, the Octagon area, the TUC stretch, Adabraka, the Accra business district, and continued through Accra Technical University, Ayalolo Station, the Atta Mills High Street to Independence Square, before returning to the starting point.
Dr. Yamborigya explained that April was dedicated to tax education each year, as it coincided with the deadline for filing income tax returns for individuals and companies whose financial year ends on December 31.
He said the initiative, on the theme, “Know Your Taxes, Pay Your Taxes; Let us build Ghana together,” aimed at creating awareness on the importance of tax compliance and its role in national development.
Dr. Yamborigya added that the Authority had set up taxpayer service centres across the country to assist individuals and businesses with filing returns, noting that officers were available to provide guidance and support.
“Compliance is an ongoing activity, and what the GRA is doing is to continue the tax education, so, we have dedicated the next three years as what we call sustained tax education”
“The idea is that we want to continue to educate all Ghanaians who are earning income and are about to pay tax, to know their responsibility as far as filing and paying their taxes are concerned,”he said.
He expressed confidence that continuous public education would enhance voluntary tax compliance and contribute to Ghana’s development.
Mr. Francis Timore Boi, an official of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIT) Ghana, called on Ghanaians to improve tax compliance, stressing that national development depended on citizens contributing their fair share.
He said despite the country’s development needs, many individuals and businesses failed to meet their tax obligations.
Mr. Boye noted that countries with strong infrastructure and public services were often those where citizens willingly pay taxes, adding that Ghana must adopt a similar culture to drive development.
He explained that the Institute, as a professional body mandated to promote tax practice and education, had partnered with the GRA to intensify public awareness on the importance of taxation.
“Taxes remain the primary source of government revenue used to fund essential services such as roads, healthcare and employment,” he added.
He cited concerns over demands for job creation, including calls for the employment of nurses, stressing that such initiatives could only be sustained through adequate tax revenue.
Mr. Boye described the ongoing awareness campaign as a starting point to encourage behavioural change, expressing hope that more citizens would appreciate the importance of paying taxes toward national development.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei