The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has appealed to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to adopt a more human-centred approach in its VAT compliance visits as the Authority intensifies efforts to improve tax compliance among businesses. GUTA President, Clement Boateng, said GRA officials deployed to markets and business premises as part of the nationwide VAT compliance campaign should exercise restraint and carry out their duties in a manner that encourages cooperation.
Speaking at the launch of the VAT Compliance Campaign, he emphasised the importance of collaboration between the GRA and the business community to ensure the exercise achieves its intended purpose. He urged the officers assigned to the campaign to engage businesses in a friendly and accommodating manner rather than adopting a confrontational approach.
“After this launch today there is going to be a nationwide education, sensitization, enforcement and awareness creation to let Ghanaians know why there is a need for those who qualify to pay VAT to do so. “What I will entreat GRA to do is to attach a human face when the time comes for them to go to the market for the exercise. Their officers who will be deployed to the markets should be friendly and accommodative in carrying out their duty,” he said.
Mr Boateng also called on the GRA to educate consumers about the benefits and incentives available to those who request VAT invoices when making purchases. “I will also urge GRA to include in their education the incentive that will be given to consumers who demand VAT invoices after their purchase,” the GUTA President stated.
GUTA pledges cooperation
Clement Boateng assured that GUTA would urge its members to fully cooperate with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as it rolls out nationwide education, public awareness and enforcement activities under the VAT Compliance Campaign. He emphasised that strong collaboration among the tax authority, businesses and consumers would be essential to boosting domestic revenue mobilisation and strengthening Ghana’s economy. According to him, GUTA remains committed to supporting the initiative by encouraging voluntary compliance among traders and business owners.
“On our part, GUTA will continue to encourage our members to cooperate to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme and help improve Ghana’s tax-to-GDP ratio for the benefit of the nation,” he stated. The campaign is designed to promote greater compliance among VAT-registered businesses through a combination of taxpayer education, awareness creation and enforcement measures.
Clement Boateng also underscored the crucial role of taxation in national development, noting that tax revenue remains the primary source of funding for development projects and public services in every country. “As we all know, taxation is fundamental to national development, and Ghana, like every other country, depends on tax revenue to finance its growth and development agenda,” he added.
