A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanbic Bank, Alhassan Andani, has lashed out at Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) noting that it operates like a “terrorist organization” in its dealings with businesses.
He expressed deep concern about the country’s tax mobilization framework, which he believes is undermining the survival of businesses.
Speaking at the Ghana CEO Presidential Gala Dinner in Accra, Alhassan Andani called for urgent reforms to address the shortcomings in the tax system.
“The GRA has become a terrorist organization. I know a number of companies when GRA gets into their space, it’s as if they deliberately do it to make money. It’s true, Mr. Vice President, most of your CEOs when GRA is coming it’s like some terrorist is coming.
“It’s supposed to be you file what you projected to do for the year, and pay tax quarterly. But when they come, they just slap stuff on you with any new tax measures. We don’t simplify and indeed merge and delete some taxes.
“The last time I was speaking to a business, they had thirty-three different taxes. We just have to rationalize it and give this very emerging capital, private sector people, space to breathe,” he said.
In a related development, the Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel Mckorley also voiced concerns over government policies that he believes are negatively impacting business sustainability.
“If you want to do business in Ghana, then you have to be prepared. Being a Ghanaian doing business in Ghana, you have to be brave. Many times, it looks like we don’t support our own. I have tasted it, I have slept with it, and I’m living with it, and it’s quite dangerous and difficult.
“I always try to be honest with my business. It’s about time we build strong indigenous businesses. If Ghana has ten top businessmen, how much did we take from the IMF? My business can generate $3.2 billion for the government every year, he noted.
The event brought together Ghana’s top business leaders and political figures including Vice President Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
It was held on the theme: “Reigniting the Business Economy and Social Contract for Growth: A Business Manifesto for Political Accountability and Sustainable Development.”
