The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is currently confronting substantial financial hurdles, as it revealed that a collective total of GH¢47 million in unpaid taxes is owed by nine private and state-owned entities. This concerning information was brought to light during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session held on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong presented the challenges faced by the GRA, noting that the recovery of the GH¢47 million in tax arrears, which has been accumulating as of the close of 2023, has proven difficult. The institutions that owe the most include the Graphic Communications Group, which has an outstanding tax bill of GH¢3.4 million, followed by GIHOC Distilleries with GH¢2.1 million, and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which owes GH¢136,000.
The management team at the GRA has pointed out that many of these state-owned enterprises have indicated ongoing cash flow problems, which have significantly hindered their ability to settle these outstanding debts. In addition to the GH¢47 million owed by the institutions, GRA officials also disclosed that there is a staggering amount of GH¢116 million in unpaid Value Added Tax (VAT) liabilities that remains unaddressed, a point emphasized by Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, the Commissioner for Domestic Tax Revenue.
You May Also Like
Brako-powers condemns ec's decision to rerun elections in 19 polling stations in ablekuma north
Emmanuel obugyei dadzie – blogger | media personality | youth advocate
Agradaa sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraudulent advertising practices
President mahama calls for unity, warns against tribalism in society
In an effort to address these issues, Mr. Sarpong assured the PAC that the GRA is ramping up its initiatives to recover all overdue payments and ensure adherence to tax regulations across all sectors of the economy. Compounding the authority's difficulties is a judgment debt of GH¢2 million, which arose after the GRA suspended the licenses of three companies due to suspected malfeasance, without providing them an opportunity for a fair hearing—a move deemed a breach of due process that ultimately resulted in a court ruling against the GRA.
In a surprising twist, Mr. Sarpong revealed that the GRA faces difficulties in pinpointing the officials responsible for initiating these punitive actions against the companies involved. Nonetheless, he reassured the committee that measures are being taken not only to recover the judgment debt but also to claim the unpaid taxes from the various institutions.
The GRA’s commitment to resolving these financial issues is critical, as the authority strives to enhance compliance and foster greater accountability within the nation’s revenue collection framework.
BY Emmanuel Obugyei Dadzie
Post a Comment