The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has disclosed that nine entities operating in the country owe the state a total of GH¢47 million in unpaid taxes as of December 2023.
This revelation came to light when the Authority appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament during its recent sittings in Accra.
Speaking at the hearing, Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Akwasi Sarpong, stated that some notable business entities, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), are among the debtors owing the state GH¢47 million.
“Madam Chair, currently on our books at the GRA is an uncollected debt of GH¢47 million accrued by nine entities operating in Ghana as of December 2023. The list includes some state-owned enterprises, with the Graphic Communications Group Limited leading with an accumulated debt of GH¢3.4 million in taxes, followed by GIHOC Distilleries with GH¢2.1 million, and Tema Oil Refinery owing GH¢136,000,” Mr. Sarpong told the Committee.
He noted that most of the affected companies, particularly the SOEs, attributed their inability to settle the debt to cash flow challenges.
In addition, the GRA revealed that a further GH¢116 million in outstanding VAT liabilities had been confirmed by the Domestic Tax Revenue Division.
Mr. Sarpong assured the PAC that the Authority was strengthening its controls and enforcement measures to recover all taxes owed to the state by both local and foreign businesses operating in Ghana.
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Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh
