Minister advises Ghanaians to honour tax obligations

Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to Ghanaians to pay their taxes and rates to improve the national revenue base.

He said citizens had failed to demand accountability from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) because tax payers, especially those in the informal setups, had not been faithful in paying their taxes and rates.

Mr Adjei said this when he launched the implementation of the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) in Sunyani and Berekum Municipalities.

SPEFA a component of the Local Government Capacity Support Project and the Netherland Development Organisation (SNV-Ghana) has been awarded a consultancy service to lead consortium of civil society organisatons for the implementation of the project.

Mission of Hope Society, a social and human right development non-governmental organization, is implementing the project in the two municipalities aimed at improving citizens’ perceptions of urban management and increased their participation in development decision making with MMDAs.

Mr Adjei said Ghana’s current fiscal position and economic situation was very worrisome and until citizens pay their taxes and rates it would be difficult for the government to raise the resources needed for accelerated national development.

He said it was sad some Ghanaians connived with foreign investors and firms and fronted for them to evade taxes.