A member of the Tax Justice Coalition, Jeffery Ocansey says the President must pay taxes as part of efforts to encourage tax compliance.
Chapter 8 Article 68 clause 5 of the Constitution of Ghana states that the president’s salary, allowance, facilities, pensions, and gratuity shall be exempted from tax.
In line with setting an example, President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2018, directed all Ministers of state, government appointees and public officials to file their tax returns before the deadline of April 30, 2018.
But Mr. Ocansey called for more from the Heads of State.
“I am looking that president to look at how to work around it so he will pay tax. Let’s have leadership by example,” he said.
In addition, he called on other politicians to their bit to improve tax compliance.
“One thing that can keep the politicians themselves to hold good office is tax. Let them be part of the system. Wherever they go to their constituency to talk to the people, MPs should talk to the people about paying tax.”
He reminded that it also help compliance if citizens saw their taxes being put to good use.
“The accountability part of it is very important,” Mr. Ocansey stressed.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has noted that there should six million people who are supposed to be on the tax net.
But the GRA records only just 1.5 million people paying taxes regularly.