[ 2017-03-09 ]

Newly appointed GRA boss, Emmanuel Kofi Nitm

'We're ready to raise needed money for Akufo-Addo’s projects' - New GRA boss
The Ghana Revenue Authority says it is prepared to
raise the needed revenue to finance government’s
projects – many of which have been described by
political opponents as ambitious.

New GRA boss, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, said the
Authority will adopt a mix of different strategies
that will help them to increase their revenue base
as well as to halt revenue leakages in the
system.

He told Joy News’ Raymond Acquah Thursday the
strategies will include an improved customer
relations profile that will enable tax collectors
to go to taxpayers rather than allowing them to
come to their office.

“We want to be able to walk to the taxpayer and
reduce the number of hours he has to spend
interacting with us,” he said.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has
itemized seven projects it intends to commence in
2017.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta who disclosed
this when he presented government’s first budget
to Parliament last week said they will raise the
needed funds to finance them.

The programmes include;

(a) Establishment of the Infrastructure for
poverty eradication – each constituency to
receive the cedi equivalent of million dollars to
combat poverty; (b) Implementation of the one
district one factory – initiating
industrialisation as promised during the 2016
election campaigns;

(c) Establishment of the Zongo Development Fund to
support the development of Zongo communities;

(d) Roll out of the National Identification System
to help formalise the economy;

(e) Roll out the free senior high school to ensure
equal opportunities for students;

(f) Roll out the national digital addressing
system;

(g) Restoration of the teachers and nursing
trainee allowance;

He also announced the abolishment of eight (8)
taxes including duties paid on the importation of
spare parts.

Spokespersons of the opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed
skepticism about the programmes, saying they are
mere charade to deceive Ghanaians.

NDC Members of Parliament (MP) led by Minority
leader, Haruna Iddrisu said government will not
get the needed funds given the abolishment of some
of taxes.

But the Revenue Authority said it will be able to
raise the requisite funds for government’s
programmes.

Mr Kofi Nti said he will bolster the performance
of staff by rewarding those who increase their
client base.

Asked how the Authority will handle workers who
aid companies to evade tax, he said they are
drafting a policy that will weed them out of the
system.

“We are adopting a policy such that such people
are weeded out of the system and we scheming out
strategies to make sure we get such people on
camera,” he said.

He also said they will increase the award given
informants such that anyone who provides
information about such arrangement will get 25
percent of the money involved.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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