The recipient of nearly $4 million in tax exemptions,4-Mac Limited, through the One District, One Factory program for the establishment of a hotel, cannot be located in the Office of Registrar of Companies (ORC) database.

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A search conducted by The Fourth Estate at the Office of the Registrar of Companies revealed that neither the name "4-Mac" nor the hotel "Le Meridien" that it is constructing can be found.

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In a letter dated August 9, 2023, the ORC stated, "We wish to state that a search conducted at our company registry did not show the trace of companies – Le Meridien Hotel and 4-Mac Limited."

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Ken Ofori Atta, the Minister of Finance, wrote to Parliament requesting a tax waiver for 4-Mac Limited. Last year, the finance ministry sought parliamentary approval for approximately GH₵6.4 million in tax waivers for 4-Mac Limited, which is constructing the hotel in the Airport Residential Area.

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This waiver was granted under the 1D1F policy, enabling the company to import construction materials tax-free and obtain other related tax benefits.

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Parliament's Finance Committee, chaired by Kwaku Kwarteng, adjusted the terms and reduced the waiver amount from US$6,389,428 to US$3,919,628. The committee recommended that the company pay VAT on locally procured items.

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What raises questions about the exemption granted to 4-Mac is that the hotel was categorized as a factory, even though the 1D1F program traditionally focuses on the manufacturing sector.

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To qualify for tax exemptions, companies must register with the Office of the Registrar of Companies and have a clean tax record with the GRA (Ghana Revenue Authority).

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The Fourth Estate inquired with the ORC about 4-Mac Limited's background information, directors, and shareholders, but the company's existence was not confirmed.

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The ORC suggested contacting the directors for potential name changes or providing registration evidence.

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Parliament records show the company's compliance with GRA obligations, but the company's digital presence is minimal, lacking contact details. The official website, email, and social media handles are nonexistent online.

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Different websites provide conflicting information about 4-Mac Limited's projects and locations, suggesting potential irregularities.

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While Parliament approved the tax exemption under the name "4-Mac Limited," which isn't in the ORC database, experts suggest it might be a trading name. However, it's argued that official tax waivers should be granted using registered names rather than trading names.

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