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Only 2million Ghanaians pay tax

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  • insight to the bone 10 years ago

    out of this amount i bet you 99% are taken from the Akans as for the pepefuo and ayigbe they can only take and steal

  • john ansah 10 years ago

    is it only Akans who work in Ghana, please if you do not have a good contribution just shut up!

  • insight to the bone 10 years ago

    yes only Akans work , the rest of you just perch yourselves in strategic positions so you can steal , collect bribes and plunder the nations coffers

  • APOLLO T 10 years ago

    how many ayigbes or pepefou are achievers if not political positions and stealing from the nation

  • GHFUO, be serious & change ur MENtali 10 years ago

    ADD THIS GOVT INEFFICIENCY TO RAMPANT CORRUPTION, HIGH IMPORTS, NOT PAYING DOWN THE DEFICIT AND NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THE VALUE OF THE CEDI IS BELOW NIMA TRASH!

  • Apraku 10 years ago

    Nobody will buy this farce from Larbi Siaw.Question is how many civil servants do we have in Ghana? So is he trying to tell us that out of that 500,000 civil servants, only 1,5 million Ghanaians pay taxes on top of that numbe ...
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  • Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago

    Apraku, do you have any figures to challenge what Dr Larbi-Siaw is saying? The fact is that most people do not pay taxes in Ghana including some workers in the private sector because they are paid in cash. Most of the petty t ...
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  • Yaw Ohemeng 10 years ago

    The first question to ask is how many people are in secured employment who receive regular income? Most of the petty traders you are referring to live from hand to mouth. How much profit do they make? Not a lot and for most, ...
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  • APARA HARA 10 years ago

    There is a certain culture in Ghana when it comes to traditional businesses and taxation.

    I quite remember under the then JJ Rawlings Govt. when a certain business man, actually a native of Ghana, Appiah Minka, was require ...
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  • Omanhene(U$A) 10 years ago

    LOL: Even “our Presidents, VPs and several other high income-earning officials in Ghana" are exempted from paying taxes. So, who the hell should pay taxes so the president can run that damn government, while he is busy NOT ...
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  • Akwasi Kumahene 10 years ago

    Did Woyome pay tax on $59.8Million he collected from corrupt NDC government officials? Woyome was not employed and he had no contract with the corrupt NDC government officials, but managed to get paid. What a heaven on earth ...
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  • Martin 10 years ago

    Parts of the government’s revenues are derived from taxes. These revenues fund the services the government provides its citizens. Ghanaians are averse to paying taxes and yet are not hesitant to demand services from the gov ...
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  • Martin 10 years ago

    Part of the government’s revenues are derived from taxes. These revenues fund the services the government provides its citizens. Ghanaians are averse to paying taxes and yet are not hesitant to demand services from the gove ...
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  • YOOMOBEGA 10 years ago

    This is serious Mr. Kofi Ata, it is nothing to play with. Can you imagine if this was happening in UK or US?
    This problem totally affects our governance and development. We need to rectify the problem immediately.

  • DAN 10 years ago

    do you think whores or drug dealers pay tax in any country? only what they put in bank is taxed

  • COCONUTHEAD 10 years ago

    So called akans steal what the 2 million people pay into government coffers. I have not come across the worst thieves and drug dealers like akans. You are a twerp and I feel sorry for you.

  • Kojo 10 years ago

    I bet you, you are an N.D.C. MAN.

  • insight to the bone 10 years ago

    Unfortunately i am always right , we have a govt that has introduced a system of govt which encourages people not to work rather they all perch on strategic posts or positions like vultures stealing , being bribed and facilit ...
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  • Visionary 10 years ago

    TRUE THAT MR TAX OFFICER.
    I agreed with Dr. Larbi Siaw, however there is one thing he forget to lay emphasis on is the creation of a good paying tax deductible work.
    If our leaders and top 1% salary earners continue to enj ...
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  • LARYEAH 10 years ago

    INSIGHT, GA PEOPLE A ND ALL OTHER GHANAIANS WORK ALSO, INCLUDING EWES, EXCEPT SOME LOW LIVES NDC FOOT SOLDIERS.

  • no mercy 10 years ago

    stuipid man ,tax paing is nothing with
    Akans

  • SGT ANANI FIADZOE 10 years ago

    Does those tax collectedby NDC use the Tax wisely for the benefit of this nation and the Ghanaian People by this NDC incompetent fools at all? Tweaaaaaa NDC are you NPP co-equal?

  • Nana Kasa 10 years ago

    Pls make some sense. Not Asanteism

  • SGT ANANI FIADZOE 10 years ago

    Because you are just an idiot, political monkey who is in our country only to serve a political party not your nation you turn out to be blind fool and death.

    When NDC led by corrupt Mahama robbed the conscience of the maj ...
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  • ASEMPAYE 10 years ago

    You are brainless idiot. If you don't have any sensible and constructive conribution to a subject you better keep your little mind at peace. No wonder things are the way they are in the country.

  • PETE 10 years ago

    only a coward and insecure person who hates. your hated for other tribes will not change anything on the ground. we will have northerners , ewes , guans, gas fantes etc in ghana no matter what. what has the topic taxes got to ...
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  • Zonrogoma 10 years ago

    Youi are a bum and an idiot.Talk senne and go to the regionla markets if taxes are not collected and if so do the rest not eat and get money out of their works?
    There is the need for the tax net to be enlarged and non payer ...
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  • NYARKO USA 10 years ago

    YOU ARE A DISGUSTING SMEELY ANIMAL WITH FOUR LEG AND A TAIL.
    IF YOU HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY FUCK OFF ABOA PREKO BA USELESS MAN WITH RETARDED BRAIN.
    I GUESS YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE CHIMP SILLY BOYS

  • MR GREEN 10 years ago

    Well our fundamentals are all wrong.How can you collect tax when you do not even know the number of people in the country,let a lone their address and income tax number.We as a people do not really love this country.
    We need ...
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  • Mama Tula 10 years ago

    I am glad this matter has surfaced again. Some time ago I raised the same issue here on Ghanaweb to find out how many Ghanaians actually pay tax to the Government. What about all the self employed Ghanaians, the carpenters, m ...
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  • The African Patriot 10 years ago

    It will be quite interesting to find out the names of those who pay taxes, especially our political bigots.
    How are going to collect taxes, if there is no street names, or the People do not have national identity Card to ope ...
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  • Kay 10 years ago

    What you are saying could have been easily addressed by the National Identification Register,unfortunately somebody is not benefiting so it has been discontinued.National Ident. # could be used by GRA.Police,Local Assemblies, ...
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  • Say the Truth 10 years ago

    TWEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

    FOOLS & SELFISH MANAGERS/GOVERMENT IS INCHARGE!!!!!!

    ASK WHY THE DON'T WANT TO COMPLETE THIS NATIONAL PLANNING/ECONOMIC VITAL DATABASE TOOL?????????

    GOD IS WATCHING THE ...
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  • DAN 10 years ago

    already done in usa for over 60 years, this ties your tax's,pension, and credit history all together...banks submit records of amounts in saving and checking accounts to irs to verify with tax returns

  • dan 10 years ago

    EVERY DAY WHEN WE BUY PETRO AND ANY OTHER PROUDUCT WE PAY VATS IS IT NOT FEE AND TAXES?

  • Dan Buduh 10 years ago

    Dr. Thank you very much for this peace of information. Only one third of eligible tax payers actually pay their taxes. In this case, what is your value being over there as a Tax Advisor? The Minister of Finance should sit dow ...
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  • CLASSIC 10 years ago

    I really like your comment. I like people who contribute and profer suggestions to solve problems. We vote people in government to solve problems and we always hear we need to EXPAND THE TAX NET and then they go to bed. We ne ...
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  • Krikri,, 10 years ago

    Professional politicians go into politics to ACQUIRE WEALTH THROUGH STEALING, LOOTING, TAKING BRIBES, TRAVELLING BY HEART. There are too many examples. Because of this, they do not care whether taxes are paid or not. They col ...
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  • Doc. 10 years ago

    You've hit the nail on the head. Only few Ghanaians pay tax and those who pay are also over-taxed. Yet, Ghanaians want the government to do A-Z. Where do they think the money is going to come from ? It can only come from prin ...
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  • ASEMPAYE 10 years ago

    Couldn't say it any better.

  • Nana 10 years ago

    To understand why only 2 million Ghanaians pay taxes, we have to understand how "imported tax systems" are at logger heads with "local tax systems".

    First, any type or style of tax system MUST and SHOULD consider the cult ...
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  • EZEKIEL 10 years ago

    WE are just NOT organised for SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT! Since when did you not know that TOO FEW PEOPLE are in the TAX-NET??
    Question...what have we done to ORGANISE TAX in the INFORMAL SECTOR ???
    ALL these BOOKLONG THEORIES.... ...
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  • Johnny USA 10 years ago

    DOC YOU ARE WRONG .WHY ? EVERY GHANAIAN OR CITIZEN PAY TAX. DONT WE BUY FROM STORES,JOIN TAXI AND IN RETURNS ARE THOSE BUYING FROM STORES OR MARKET NOT PAYING TAX? NOT ONLY WORKING CITIZENS ONLY PAY TAX.PAYING UTILITY BILLS I ...
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  • True Kwame 10 years ago

    VAT and other indirect taxes such the "sin" taxes on alcohol and cigarettes is not the issue here. The rust of the matter is the evasion of direct taxes payable by natural persons and juristic person. Please do not trivialize ...
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  • Kay 10 years ago

    Correct answer,he is confusing direct and indirect taxes.What is being discussed here is direct taxes which cannot be passed on like income tax i.e.PAYE,Property rates and not VAT or Excise Duty.

  • MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago

    Johnny, do you really live in the US?
    April 15 is coming, and just be honest and tell Ghanaians what all the tax-payers in the US do.
    After paying all kinds of property taxes and ground rents.

  • Agya koo 10 years ago

    How can one pat tax whiles he is not working,and what do they derive from the state.taxing is more like stealing,get real.

  • True Kwame 10 years ago

    The problem may be wider than failure to collect. What about rumors that Corrupt tax officers (CEPS,IRS,etc)steal/pocket money collected from tax payers? An entire overhaul of the tax system is required with strict controls t ...
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  • chloe 10 years ago

    how fundamentals is Ghana, Oh GOD HELP GHANAAAAAAAA

  • BOY KOFI 10 years ago

    Collection of tax is simply an administrative job.To start with,we must decentralised the Tax System into regional level instead of national one.Every region must be structured or organised in a way to collect tax effectively ...
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  • MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago

    Boy-Kofi, we live in the digital world now - with all the smart phones, computers, I-Pads & tablets. ICT can help.

  • Pelicles 10 years ago

    ICT or whatever, can be implemented to streamline tax collection but the question to be asked is, are we prepared to let the system work? Did you hear that when the oil started to flow, the meter that records it in and out f ...
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  • PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI- McA 10 years ago

    WE MUST AVOID DOUBLE STANDARDS==
    ====================================
    THE WORKING METHODS IN DOUBT IN GHANA
    ========================================
    NO VOICE IN THE STREETS==DEBATE OR PAHETIC RAMBLES============= ...
    read full comment

  • Victor A. Young 10 years ago

    This absolutely unacceptable! Govt. should do well to educate people about their civic rights and responsibilities. Without a wider tax net, we'll always be begging for aid or "lalasu-lala" to stay on our feet economically. Y ...
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  • Victor A. Young 10 years ago

    ...This revelation is shocking, but it's the truth.....

  • APOLLO T 10 years ago

    WHY SHOULD WE PAY TAXES FOR THESE FOOLS IN NDC TO CHOP ROUGH ROUGH

  • Nii 10 years ago

    Surely more than 2 million Ghanaians pay their taxes but the monies never get to the tax office so they are excuded from the equation. Poor accountability and tax policy is the cause. More needs to be done in this areas if ta ...
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  • SOULE-MAN ADAM 10 years ago

    WITH ALL THE RICHNESS WE ARE BLESSED WITH;IF MANAGED WELL GHANAIANS CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM PAYING TAXES

  • Oyuwa 10 years ago

    Mahama carrying the tax logo and putting on the teachers

  • BONAFIDEKMAN 10 years ago

    Ghana is dis-organized so people just do whatever they want with no regard for the law

  • KWAA 10 years ago

    In Ghana our problem is not who pay tax,but corruption is our problem.Those who are suppose to enforce laws,which can bring in more revenue are so corrupt,Ghana loses more money through corruption than we take in.Tax collecto ...
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  • Say the Truth 10 years ago

    WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN FOR ALMOST 7 YEARS DOWN THE LINE THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION DATA (NATIONAL ID) THAT WAS INITIATED BY JAK/NPP GOVERNMENT (NOTE BUSIA STARTED THAT IN 1969 BEFORE HE WAS OVERTHROWN) A VERY VITAL DATABASE ...
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  • Joe Turkey 10 years ago

    The more we pay, the more waste we'll see. Government problem is not lack of tax money; in fact we could have made the shortfall from many other sources. It's the distribution of what we have. This is why even a deputy minist ...
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  • dan 10 years ago

    EVERY DAY THAT WE BUY PETRO OR BUY ANYTHING IN GHANA VAT IS INCLUDED
    SO STOP THE LIES PLEASE

  • Nana Kasa 10 years ago

    Ask the NPP bright men to educate you on taxation before you comment on issues.

  • Pelicles 10 years ago

    What did the late president, a Tax professor do on our tax policy? He should have changed it as a president.

  • Sethoo 10 years ago

    Go & ask him at Asomdwe Park he's relaxing there reading his bible,you're still talking about the dead.

  • kwesi kakraba 10 years ago

    Mr, economist,could you let us know the breakdown of the working force, self employed and also unemployed, old age and under age.etc.

  • Apraku 10 years ago

    Nobody will buy this farce from Larbi Siaw.Question is how many civil servants do we have in Ghana? So is he trying to tell us that out of that 500,000 civil servants, only 1,5 million Ghanaians pay taxes on top of that numbe ...
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  • Mununkum of Sunyani 10 years ago

    This is not true. There are direct taxes and indirect taxes. Every Ghanaian pays an indirect tax and that should be properly managed to run the nation. The amount the government receives from indirect taxes far exceeds direc ...
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  • MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago

    This is where the late president failed. As a former tax professor, His Excellency, Atta-Mills should have done something to improve our tax system.

    Seriously, we need an effective and efficient tax system to collect wha ...
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  • Yaw Owusu 10 years ago

    Most of these taxes end in the pockets end in the pockets of NDC.

    Right from birth people should be given an identification number just like the US Social Security Number / Card and a Company Tax reference number be ith Go ...
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  • Mununkum 10 years ago

    Doesn't every Ghanaian pay VAT. Is VAT tax or not?

  • Yaw Ohemeng 10 years ago

    This statistic cannot be true. If the Policy adviser is talking about direct taxation ( on say incomes and profits), then he may be right.

    As others have observed, everybody pays VAT. Cocoa farmers across the country are t ...
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  • dan 10 years ago

    WE ARE NOT STUPID HERE IN GHANA

  • WW 10 years ago

    Speak for yourself, man! if we were not, would we have.......I think the talking head meant income tax. Among the things to do is What govt should do is (i) push the MMDAs and DAs to collect reasonable property rate, ask all ...
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  • NDC LIARS 10 years ago

    This a big lie. Common ice water seller are tax everyday

  • Pelicles 10 years ago

    It is an undeniable fact that taxes collected go into individual pockets than the government coffers. More than two million people pay taxes but with corruption as the only thing on our minds, the money is siphoned for person ...
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  • Raphael kwadwo konadu (south Africa 10 years ago

    what is this man trying to say, how can you utter such a big lies. even a baby in mother's womb pay tax, Paa O paa who carriers things on their own head are being forced to pay tax in Kumasi. so what is he saying,every road ...
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  • emma 10 years ago

    Bcs . the Govenment don't wont to creat job for people to work for that seckter, i think if Ghana govenment is realy cer about those who pay tax on the nation they know how to craet institution about tax to creat job so that ...
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  • Konkonsa 10 years ago

    Too many but (twi) enka huu

  • PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI- McA 10 years ago

    THE FAIR TAX==GOV PROXIMITY==
    =======================================
    SUPPORTED BY HISTORY
    ================================
    AGREED BY ECONOMISTS
    ===================================
    FEARD BY 1% POPULATION\
    = ...
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  • WW 10 years ago

    What are you going to do about it? If you know that precisely 4 million are not paying tax, you must know who they are and you are still not devising ways to collect taxes due from them? you are wasting precious resources

  • OWUSU 10 years ago

    give out jobs and let poor people work .THEN YOU CAN GET TAX OUT OF THEM , THIS YOUR TALK IS NO FORMULAR .DO YOU KNOW THE THEORY OF ECONOMICS . YOUR TALK AT THAT MEETING IS CHILDISH AND WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY FOR THAT MEE ...
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  • JETMONEY 10 years ago

    he trying to say only two million work in ghana?cuz he can tell me nurses,doctors,police officers,teachers,farmers,mining companies,soildiers,ministers,mps,private business citizens dont add up to two million,people think all ...
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  • Visionary 10 years ago

    TRUE THAT MR TAX OFFICER.
    I agreed with Dr. Larbi Siaw, however there is one thing he forget to lay emphasis on is the creation of a good paying tax deductible work.
    If our leaders and top 1% salary earners continue to enj ...
    read full comment

  • Matthew Ashimolo 10 years ago

    Tweeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa you want my tax naniama we wont 4 u 2 chop. stomach leaders

  • NANA AMA BOATEMAA 10 years ago

    -----GHANAIANS ARE PAYING TOO MUCH IN TAXES ------
    The definition of the average Ghanaian tax includes all personal and business taxes, import duties and resource royalties ( example, Tax on condoms, Ice water sellers pay ta ...
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  • princewilly@ymail.com 10 years ago

    One day a hooker went to file her taxes, and for occupation she put prostitution.

    The tax collector explained that prostitution was an illegal occupation.

    She said she'd have to go home and think about it and that she'd ...
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  • Bright,London 10 years ago

    Although looking at Ghana's population and just a fraction who pay tax it is pathetic, but it is not all about the number of people who pay taxes but how the authorities utilise the "little" entrusted to them. If they cannot ...
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  • IRON LADY 10 years ago

    NONSENSE, HOW MUCH DOES MAHAMA PAY?

  • IRON LADY 10 years ago

    STEALERS!!!

  • Frank 10 years ago

    But all want the government takes care of everything

  • Kofi 10 years ago

    And you believe this nonsense? Don't people pay VAT on most items bought? Don't people pay taxes when they make phone calls? How many people in Ghana use phones? When taxes are put on petroleum products, don't passengers and ...
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  • Meman Nti 10 years ago

    The small that you get what do you use for? make good use of what you get and it will encourage other to pay.The market women complain of dirtiness and bad environment every day but to no avail,these are group of people who c ...
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  • pozas,nj usa. 10 years ago

    I don't what this Dr,is saying.is he saying that there are more than 2million people working but only a few pay their taxes? If there's lack of job opportunities,why wouldn't government revenues fall.For government to get mor ...
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  • km agyin 10 years ago

    The only way to increase the tax net is to have a modern addressing system where everybody is known by where he or she lives, meaning workable street names and numbering of houses. All mails including tax obligations, etc sho ...
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  • jm 10 years ago

    WHY SHOULD THEY PAY TAXES FOR TO BUY 4X4 CARS WITH THEIR MONEY INSTEAD OF BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURES FOR DEVELOPMENT

  • Dunaa, Chorkor 10 years ago

    So all the "edey be k3k3" slogan shouting idiots and their "eeshi rado rado" useless counterparts only shout their voices hoarse as their contribution towards the country they so much pretend to love more than anyone else. I ...
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  • YAW AMANING 10 years ago

    WHAT kind of TAX?

  • AWUNI 10 years ago

    NONSENSE!!

    PEOPLE PAY TAXES IN THE HOPE OF SEEING IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR STANDARDS OF LIVING, USING THEIR TAX MONIES.

    IF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN LIVING STANDARDS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING, DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE PAYIN ...
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  • mark 10 years ago

    we can even collect taxes from all the 25 million but if we don't make efforts to reduce on corruption and cut down on unnecesary expenses,we will still go nowhere

  • Kofi 10 years ago

    Every Ghanaian who spends money, pays taxes. If you pay transportation fee, you have paid petroleum taxes. Even I who makes phone calls to Ghana, I pay taxes to the government of Ghana. All those who travel through the dirty ...
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  • JOHN 10 years ago

    what have we used the tax collected from the 2M people for? What is our justification for more revenue???

  • Boye 10 years ago

    Intellectual dishonesty. Bunkum Dr Go back to the drawing board

  • KOFI 10 years ago

    2&3 BEDROOM AIR-CONDITIONED EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS IN TANTRA HILLS FOR RENT, BATHS WITH WATER HEATERS,BURGLARY PROOFED SLIDING TINTED/OPAQUE WINDOWS/ DOORS WITH SLIDING MOSQUITO NETS ETC.
    RENT - C650/MONTH NEGOTIABLE
    PLEASE ...
    read full comment

  • Kofi Osei 10 years ago

    What's all this you have mining companies that are taking away millions and millions of dollars tax free from our economy. The amount of tax not paid to government is more then this 2 million Ghanaians who pay tax. Think abou ...
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  • BOY KOFI 10 years ago

    Govt should find a way to reach out to every citizen at least once a yaer for tax declaration.Poor and administrative lapses are the results of all these.Thank you.

  • KOFI 10 years ago

    2&3 BEDROOM EXECUTIVE AIR-CONDITIONED APARTMENTS WITH CEILING FANS FOR RENT IN TANTRA HILLS,BATHS WITH WATER HEATERS
    ,BURGLARY PROOFED OPAQUE/TINTED SLIDING WINDOWS/DOORS AND MOSQUITO PROOFING ETC.
    RENT - C650/MONTH NEGOTIA ...
    read full comment

  • MAHAMA LOOT ND SHARE 10 years ago

    NDC HATE THE TRUTH,GOD WILL PUNISH ALL NDC CRIMINALS,EVILS,CORRUPTS,JUJU,KILLED MILLS FOR POWER,GOD HATE THAT,SO NDC WILL GOOOOO K3K3

  • Isaac Ofori Agyemang 10 years ago

    And its possible 15million are still seeking employment 5million are either too old to work or children. 1.5million working as government officials. 500,000 doing their own thing.Total 24million Very easy to explain..why the ...
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  • Kofi Osei 10 years ago

    What kind of kid games is this man playing? Has he forgotten about all the taxes Ghanaians pay at the harbour's in the country. How much millions of import duties we Ghanaians pay at tema port. Non....sense Non.....sense

  • chiefnaa 10 years ago

    how min ghanias are working or how min ghanias are taking wegest?eving u.are u paying tax?25mi peaples 1 to 5mil are working how can 20 mil well pay tax? do u want them to go n steel come and pay?u are talking eurp evry mens ...
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  • Ibn Batuta 10 years ago

    Prof Ayittey the so called economist recommends a tax cut.

  • DAN 10 years ago

    the massive import duties make up for income tax not collected..what is collected from ports,oil,gold,cocoa companies must be spent wisely

  • Antiochus - London 10 years ago

    Do Ghana have I. R. S. If we do what are the staff job description. God help us.

  • ama 10 years ago

    Dr Larbi you are wrong. Everyone in Ghana pay some kind of taxes to the government.Look at our VAT on food. In America they don't tax on food but in Ghana we do. The tax money is going to individual pocket.