TAAG Executives addressing the media
The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), a trade organization with over 1,400 members, has expressed disappointment following a two-week petition to the presidency which has gone unanswered.
According to the group, the association in the petition addressed to the Presidency detailed a number of ill-treatments meted out against its members including extortion and harassment by taskforces from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division which has led to the collapse of businesses.
TAGG General Secretary, Nana Poku, acknowledged the tremendous developmental projects executed by the Nana Addo Bawumia-led administration including the paperless port system.
He, however, expressed disappointment in the government for sidelining the numerous plights of the concerned traders who, over the years, have complied with the government’s policies aimed at developing the nation.
Addressing a section of the media, Nana Poku made a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo to address their allegations leveled against the Customs Division of the GRA over the extortion of traders and importers at both the Tema and Takoradi ports to help sustain their businesses.
TAGG President, Kwadwo Amoateng also stated that the GRA custom division has mislead Ghanaians into believing that traders flout tax regulations and engage in smuggling, under declaration, misdescription, and concealment.
“The authority has created the impression that the government is no longer collecting import duties through the customs system and that it has been successful in raising revenue by deploying a task force,” he said.
Mr. Amoateng stated that the government has invested in cutting-edge systems at the Tema and Takoradi ports to ensure due diligence, tax compliance, and revenue mobilization are followed at the port and thus urged the GRA to implement its duties at the port.
Meanwhile, the GRA has debunked claims that it is deliberately harassing members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) over tax collections at ports.
According to the Authority, the operation to collect all taxes owed to the State is part of measures to ensure that the government rakes in tax revenues to undertake developmental projects.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke