United States Presidents Do !!!

Governments depend on taxes to run the affairs of the country. It is therefore right to expect that all citizens pay their fair share of the burden.

Martin Luther King Jr. stated : "THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT."

Below is a statement recently released by the White House about taxes paid by the Obamas.

" WASHINGTON / U.S. President Barack Obama's income dropped substantially in 2010 from the previous year due to declining book sales, but he is still comfortably in the ranks of the nation's millionaires, his federal tax returns show.

The Obama family earned $1.732 million U.S. last year, largely from sales of the president's books, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope.

Obama also derived income from his new children's book, Of Thee I Sing: A letter to My Daughters, but he donated all proceeds to a charity benefiting children of slain and disabled soldiers, the White house said.

The Obamas paid a total of $45,400 in federal taxes and $52,000 in Illinois taxes. "

The main purpose of this article is to find out whether or not Ghanaian presidents pay taxes.

I am sure Ghanaians would be pleased to read a statement similar to that from the Obama White House.

Executive Assistants of all the Living Presidents of Ghana should take action :

His Excellency John Jerry Rawlings

His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor

His Excellency John Atta Mills.

Disclosing the tax records of the presidents will convince Ghanaians that the TOP CITIZENS are bearing their fair share of the tax burden.

As a SPECIALIST TAX LAWYER, President Atta-Mills can use this opportunity to educate the Ghanaian Society about the importance of paying all legitimate taxes.

Let president Mills take the lead in disclosing his tax obligations in the same manner as President Obama has done. This will indicate real leadership by example.

President Atta-Mills has already demonstrated one admirable leadership by example procedure - that is passing through the normal CUSTOMS CHECK when traveling through Kotoka International Airport. This simple act shows clearly that NO CITIZEN is above the LAW.

Hopefully, when the presidents have shown the way, Ghanaians can demand that other senior public officials as well as all genuine businessmen / businesswomen prove that they have also met their tax obligations.

Hopefully this article will stimulate serious and meaningful discussions on the subject of TAX RETUNS among ordinary Ghanaians.

GOD BLESS GHANA !!!

Lsam@compusmart.ab.ca