Not Every Ghanaian understands the Payment of Taxes - Dr Alex Ampaabeng

The Fiscal Lead specialist in Oxfam Ghana, Dr Alex Ampaabeng underrated that not every Ghanaian understands why taxes must be paid.

He made it clear that most Ghanaians have little knowledge about the mandate and need to be educated.

Dr Alex charged Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) the need to make public sensitization on paying taxes for ordinary Ghanaians to know their responsibility as a citizen of a nation.

Speaking with Soireenews Nattybongo after Tax Dialogue which was held at Sefwi Wiawso, Dr Alex Ampabeng stated that Ghana Revenue Authority should get closer to the various companies and explain things to them as far as the payment of tax is concerned.

He further stated that going from community to community, individual to individual and company to company will help the public to know why they should pay taxes.   

He stated that tax-paying should be voluntary compliance.

Dr Alex Ampabeng also talked about the database (Ghana card) which will guarantee everybody to pay the tax directly as the western countries have been using it.

He further added that ''most of the western countries sanction those who fail to pay their tax so I think Ghana should adopt these strategies as far as tax-paying is concerned''.

On his part, Mr Paul Atta-Peters branch manager of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Sefwi Wiawso also added that after the public education about tax-paying has been done, people are now paying taxes as expected of them.

He made mention of Kinross gold mining company about how the workers in the company pay their taxes now.

Nattybongo, Western North