Some senior customs officers attending the workshop
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is intensifying its tax education as part of efforts to boost government’s revenue generation.
The Customs Division held a workshop for stakeholders, including bonded manufacturers, warehouse operators and importers operating in the jurisdiction of Accra Collection to sensitize them on their tax obligations.
Themed, “Mobilisation in free zones and warehousing operations: the role of stakeholders,” the officers took turns to explain to participants modalities in policies such as Paperless Port Clearing System, free zones operations, as well as the current operational areas of Accra Collection.
Henry Acquah, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Internal Audit, who opened the workshop, said the GRA is determined to boost revenue collection.
He said tax education towards revenue mobilization should not be taken for granted since the country needs more funds to accelerate development.
Mr Acquah urged the stakeholders to collaborate with the authority to ensure total tax compliance in order to boost business growth.
George Attah-Kruffie, Assistant Commissioner in-charge of Accra Collection, said his department had been given a revenue target of GH¢709,310,000.
“The mandate of the Accra Collection is to collect, account for and protect revenue and ensure public health and safety whilst being guided by the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 819), the Free Zones Act (Act 504), LI 1618 (Free Zones Regulatory Instrument), LI 2248 (Customs Regulations), Agreements of Universal Postal Union (UPU), Protocols of WTO, WCO and Ecowas,” he explained.
He said “the level of compliance among taxpayers is a key factor in revenue mobilization as the higher the level of compliance amongst taxpayers, the greater the GRA can generate to meet its target.”
Senior Officer Emmanuel Ohene, who explained the new Parperless Port Clearing System to the stakeholder, said the unnecessary duplication of functions at the ports was over.
He said after initial hitches, the new system has become efficient and that would help to boost revenue mobilization.
By William Yaw Owusu