Emmanuel Kofi Nti
The Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Kofi Nti has urged Ghanaians to boycott all excisable products that do not have the excise tax stamp affixed to them.
According to him, the implementation of the policy is to protect the health of the consuming public, explaining that the tax stamp distinguishes genuine products from fake ones.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, Mr Nti also asked wholesalers, distributors and retailers to refrain from purchasing excisable products without tax stamps.
He said, “The slogan is No Tax Stamp, No Purchase,’ the enforcement has been on two levels- at the port and at the point of sale.
The implementation of the policy does not mean introduction of a new tax, but a new way for GRA to ensure that the correct quantum of tax is paid, the Commissioner-General stated.
Mr. Nti explained that the implementation of the excise tax stamp policy would help control importation, rake in revenue from local production of excisable goods, check under-declaration of goods and illicit trading, smuggling and counterfeiting of such products.
He said that the tax affects goods like cigarette and other tobacco products, alcoholic beverages (bottled, canned or packed), non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, bottled water and any other excisable products prescribed by the Minister of Finance.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi