Minister urges residents to be tax compliant in support of ‘Ghana beyond Aid’

The Central Regional Minister has urged residents of the region to file their tax returns and honour their tax payment to give true meaning to government’s vision of a Ghana beyond aid.

According to Kwamina Duncan, donor partners are fatigued and might not be willing to provide funding to support government’s activities if the citizenry does not mobilize enough revenue to help sustain the country.

Speaking at the tax and good governance week in Cape Coast, he said revenue mobilization in the country has not been able to keep up with the demands of the people for development.

The deficit, he said has to be bridged through the payment of taxes to reduce the reliance on donor funding and government’s borrowing.

“We can generate enough to solve our challenges. It is imperative for us to raise enough revenue domestically. Ghana now has got a deficit which has to be bridged through government borrowing or through support from donors.

“It is instructive to note that our donors are fatigued already and we must gird our loins to help ourselves,” he stated.

The Regional Director of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), George Amankwa Boateng, said the continuous education and sensitization would help the people to understand the essence of the payment of taxes.

“As you know, it is taxes we depend on for our development. Without taxes, our developments would be stifled. We will step up our education and sensitization programs to shore up the revenue mobilization drive,” he said.

The theme for the week: “filing your tax returns, your civic responsibilities,” according to Mr Boateng is an invitation to all Ghanaians to be a part of government’s vision of Ghana Beyond Aid.

The Regional Minister, his deputy and some other persons who graced the event all filed their tax returns after the program.