The advanced societies we always yearn to visit were not built by the presidents and governments of those countries without the support of the citizens.
The citizens are empowered to take on their governments because of their contributions to the national exchequer. Some people in those jurisdictions try to cut corners, but because the punishment for such actions is grave, the incentive to dodge the payment of taxes is slim. Here in Ghana what do we see?
The people who climb the rooftop to demand their share of the national cake contribute very little or nothing at all to the “national buffer stock” that we can fall on in times of need. Let us ask again: Has anybody on radio and television asked how government is able to maintain security, health and educational facilities without the people’s taxes?
The time has come for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to intensify tax education so that the tax net can be widened beyond workers whose taxes are deducted at source. We are ready to celebrate so-called successful people in the country without urging every income earner to do the needful as a patriotic citizen.
The list of non-tax compliant people is endless. Let us make the roll call here. Landlords do not pay taxes on their huge advances and rent, artisans such as masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and tillers pay nothing on their “workmanship.”
Traders of all kinds, shop owners, drivers and mechanics pay nothing by way of taxes. Such people are Ghanaians but have refused to play their part as responsible citizens, but are quick to chastise the government for not providing hospitals, schools and roads for the people. Remember one media house’s documentary on schools of shame and you ask yourself whether beyond the exposure did the media house sensitise the people to pay their taxes to enable the government to build such schools?
Again, not long ago the no-bed syndrome was the topic in the media space notwithstanding the resource constraints. When the government initiated the Agenda 111 projects, the debate was that government is too ambitious because it cannot be done. There was however no suggestions about how the government can raise the funds to execute the project.
If we fail to recognise that governance is a continuum but choose the path to denigrate and undermine the government in power, in the hope to come to power, sooner than later we will be on the road to a failed state.
We appeal to the Finance Minister to look at the government revenue mobilisation efforts.
Going forward, coupon rates on bonds and interests on treasury bills must be looked again so that the government is not over-burdened with payments to bond holders in future in case of crisis necessitating unsolicited haircuts.
This vision to raise capital for the development efforts will become a nightmare when people picket to demand their pound of flesh when all that is left is the bone.