Some business owners in the Upper East Region have been sharing their ordeal in the hands of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) following complaints by the Regional Ghana Journalists Association Chairman about the attitude of the state revenue collection agency against businesses who advertise their activities on radio.
Speaking on State of Our Nation, the GJA Chairman, William Nlanjerbor Jalula complained about how the GRA harassed business people who promote their commercial activities on radio.
According to him, the state agency goes after such businesses, demanding that they pay taxes even if they are not making returns simply because of their advertisements in the media.
This behaviour, he asserted, is not only inappropriate but threatens the existence of the Fourth Estate of the Realm in the region as businesses are no longer willing to advertise on radio for fear of being harassed.
Mr. Jalula argued that while he is not against the state agency taking steps to ensure tax compliance among businesses, it is wrong for it to cite advertisements on radio as grounds for its actions.
Reacting to this, Tangoba Abayage, a former Upper East Regional Minister disclosed that the GRA sent her a harshly worded letter, demanding payment of tax for a venture she started operating recently.
Madam Abayage expressed disquiet over the state agency’s approach to her and other business owners striving to create jobs in the region, stating that it is indecorous and unfriendly.
While wondering how it expects her to pay taxes for a business which is yet to fully take off, she indicated that she will give them a befitting response in due time.
“You should see the harshly worded letter they sent to me the other day! Even the composition of their letters to businesses isn’t decorous nor customer friendly at all.
I’m yet to meet them and I’ll sure let them know this piece of my mind,” she stated on Facebook.
