11 Corporate bodies awarded for tax payment, Monday, March 12, 2012, pg 32
ELEVEN corporate bodies and 14 employees of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have been honoured for distinguishing themselves in the payment and collection of taxes in the country.
While the award was, among other objectives, to motivate corporate taxpayers and encourage other taxpayers to emulate their example, it was to encourage members of staff of the GRA who had excelled not to rest on their oars.
Out of the 10 companies who were awarded on Friday night, Newmont Gold Ghana Limited and GHACEM emerged the top winners, scooping the Best Taxpayers prizes.
While the Most Improved Taxpayer’s award went to Plant Medical, Diamond Cement received the Best Taxpayer in the Customs Division with GCNet and GIZ winning the Taxpayers/Stakeholder awards.
Other award winners were Olam Ghana Limited, Guinness Ghana Breweries, Nestle Ghana Limited, Vodafone Ghana Limited and Scancom Ghana Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, commended the GRA for exceeding its 2011 revenue target by 15.4 per cent.
He said in as much as the government wanted to rake in much revenue, it was mindful not to place undue burden on the citizenry.
The government, in the 2011/2012 Budget Statement, proposed changes in the tax rates applicable to individuals. In addition, the rates for tax reliefs for individuals were enhanced in 2011.
The changes, according to Mr Kwetey, were meant to ensure that individuals, including self-employed and employees, paid less than previously.
For that reason, he called on business owners in the informal sector who were outside the tax net but made reasonable income to voluntarily comply by visiting tax offices to file returns and pay their taxes.
“Similarly, importers and travellers should ensure that they put in genuine declaration and pay their custom duties to contribute to Ghana’s development.
He also urged the GRA to continually engage all taxpayers and potential taxpayers, particularly, informal sector operators, including importers and travellers, to ensure that they understood the need to honour their tax obligations.
The GRA Commissioner-General, Mr George Blankson, observed that it was an undeniable fact that in spite of the benefits that accrued from tax revenue, for obvious reasons, payment of taxes had never been a pleasant undertaking.
“It takes ingenuity, hard work and dedication to mobilise huge amounts of tax revenue. Therefore, as we in the GRA performed so well last year, it is appropriate to celebrate the persons, staff and taxpayers alike who contributed to the success chalked up,” he said.
Among the staff members who were awarded were Best Manager (Customs Division), Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim; Best Manager (The Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD Indirect), Nana Esi Adade Amankwah; Best Manager, DTRD Direct, Abdul Rahim Swala; and Best Manager, Support Services Division, Ernest Asare.
Others were Best Senior Officer Custom Division, Mark Ambrose; Best Senior Officer ,DTRD Indirect, Seidu Abudu; Best Senior Officer, DTRD, Direct; Alfred Anku Adjah; Best Senior Officer, Support Services, Gad Kojo Baah; and Best Senior Officer, Commissioner-General’s Secretariat, Millicent A. Wormegah.
The rest were Best Junior Officer (Custom Division), Joseph Eshun; Best Junior Officer, DTRD Indirect, Victoria Fynn; Best Junior Officer, DTRD Direct, Yvonne Osei; Best Junior Officer, Support Services Division, Joseoh Asubeye and Best Junior Officer, Commissioner-General’s Secretariat, Patrick Ampofo.
The GRA boss said the institution had been tasked to collect GH¢11, 166.57 million for the 2012 fiscal year, which was 28.3 per cent above that of 2011.
He noted that even though the task was challenging, it was achievable with the support and understanding of the taxpayers and the hard work and resilience of the GRA staff.
While the award was, among other objectives, to motivate corporate taxpayers and encourage other taxpayers to emulate their example, it was to encourage members of staff of the GRA who had excelled not to rest on their oars.
Out of the 10 companies who were awarded on Friday night, Newmont Gold Ghana Limited and GHACEM emerged the top winners, scooping the Best Taxpayers prizes.
While the Most Improved Taxpayer’s award went to Plant Medical, Diamond Cement received the Best Taxpayer in the Customs Division with GCNet and GIZ winning the Taxpayers/Stakeholder awards.
Other award winners were Olam Ghana Limited, Guinness Ghana Breweries, Nestle Ghana Limited, Vodafone Ghana Limited and Scancom Ghana Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, commended the GRA for exceeding its 2011 revenue target by 15.4 per cent.
He said in as much as the government wanted to rake in much revenue, it was mindful not to place undue burden on the citizenry.
The government, in the 2011/2012 Budget Statement, proposed changes in the tax rates applicable to individuals. In addition, the rates for tax reliefs for individuals were enhanced in 2011.
The changes, according to Mr Kwetey, were meant to ensure that individuals, including self-employed and employees, paid less than previously.
For that reason, he called on business owners in the informal sector who were outside the tax net but made reasonable income to voluntarily comply by visiting tax offices to file returns and pay their taxes.
“Similarly, importers and travellers should ensure that they put in genuine declaration and pay their custom duties to contribute to Ghana’s development.
He also urged the GRA to continually engage all taxpayers and potential taxpayers, particularly, informal sector operators, including importers and travellers, to ensure that they understood the need to honour their tax obligations.
The GRA Commissioner-General, Mr George Blankson, observed that it was an undeniable fact that in spite of the benefits that accrued from tax revenue, for obvious reasons, payment of taxes had never been a pleasant undertaking.
“It takes ingenuity, hard work and dedication to mobilise huge amounts of tax revenue. Therefore, as we in the GRA performed so well last year, it is appropriate to celebrate the persons, staff and taxpayers alike who contributed to the success chalked up,” he said.
Among the staff members who were awarded were Best Manager (Customs Division), Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim; Best Manager (The Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD Indirect), Nana Esi Adade Amankwah; Best Manager, DTRD Direct, Abdul Rahim Swala; and Best Manager, Support Services Division, Ernest Asare.
Others were Best Senior Officer Custom Division, Mark Ambrose; Best Senior Officer ,DTRD Indirect, Seidu Abudu; Best Senior Officer, DTRD, Direct; Alfred Anku Adjah; Best Senior Officer, Support Services, Gad Kojo Baah; and Best Senior Officer, Commissioner-General’s Secretariat, Millicent A. Wormegah.
The rest were Best Junior Officer (Custom Division), Joseph Eshun; Best Junior Officer, DTRD Indirect, Victoria Fynn; Best Junior Officer, DTRD Direct, Yvonne Osei; Best Junior Officer, Support Services Division, Joseoh Asubeye and Best Junior Officer, Commissioner-General’s Secretariat, Patrick Ampofo.
The GRA boss said the institution had been tasked to collect GH¢11, 166.57 million for the 2012 fiscal year, which was 28.3 per cent above that of 2011.
He noted that even though the task was challenging, it was achievable with the support and understanding of the taxpayers and the hard work and resilience of the GRA staff.
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