The Ghana Revenue Authority has pushed back against claims that its intensified tax enforcement disproportionately targets local businesses, arguing the outcome reflects the structure of the economy rather than policy bias.
The Authority says domestically owned firms make up the bulk of businesses, meaning enforcement actions will affect more local operators than foreign companies.
Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement in the Accra Central Area, Joseph Adjeikwei Annan, said the drive is aimed at improving compliance and broadening the tax base, not singling out indigenous enterprises.
“I think it is just something that is imaginary. I say so because look at the number of local businesses we have in Ghana, so many. So if you are even to do percentages, you realize that we have been doing more of the foreign than the local.
“But you go to a place, maybe you have one or two foreign and you have maybe 20 Ghanaian businesses. Obviously, you pick up more Ghanaian businesses than just one foreign business and then it will send that wrong perception that we are after our own. But then, you see, wrong is wrong and right is right. If you have fallen foul of the law, you have fallen foul of the law. But then, this is just to say that we are trying to be as fair as we can.
“But that assertion is not correct that we are more on our own than the foreigners. It is not correct, at least from my perception and I’m on the floor. So if I tell you it’s not correct, it’s not correct,” he said.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has in recent times intensified its tax law enforcement drive, cautioning that businesses found breaching tax obligations could face severe sanctions including arrest and prosecution.
The Authority says the move forms part of broader efforts to tighten compliance and improve revenue mobilisation.tt