The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has come to the defense of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's recent criticisms against the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), asserting that the authority has unfairly targeted local businesses in its tax collection efforts.

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In a press release issued on March 27, 2024, TAGG supported Bawumia's statements, alleging that the GRA's revenue collection initiatives have led to what they describe as the "harassment" of businesses nationwide.TAGG accused the GRA of employing tactics that pose a threat to the survival of local businesses.

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Key concerns include allegations of extortion and harassment by GRA officials, particularly through the deployment of task forces to monitor traders and seize goods and cargo post-clearance at ports.Moreover, TAGG asserts that traders often face unjust tax evaluations and are required to pay amounts that surpass their capital for taxes they do not fully understand.

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“We, members of the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) wish to affirm the statement made by His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic, that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been harassing businesses in its revenue mobilisation drive.“The Vice President, in our view, couldn't have said it any better because his pronouncement is a true reflection of daily happenings in the business community.

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And the statement Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has issued before.“We, therefore, find the statement released by the Ghana Revenue Authority Workers Union (GRAWU) of the GRA which seeks to rebut the assertion of the Vice President most unfortunate and misleading to the trading public,” part of the press statement, which was signed by President of the group, Kwdwo Amoateng said.

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Furthermore, they underscore GRA officials' intrusive conduct, such as stationing themselves at shops to oversee customer flow, contending that this discourages potential customers and undermines business sustainability.

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TAGG has urged pertinent stakeholders, including the GRA, to promptly address these concerns, stressing the imperative for a tax system that is conducive to business growth, fostering both revenue generation for the state and the development of local enterprises.

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“As members of the business community who have been victims of the incessant harassment by the GRA over the years in the name of collecting revenue for the State, we deem it necessary to put out the facts and chastise GRAWU for debunking what is the obvious truth.

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“To help Ghanaians appreciate the level of frustration we continue to suffer at the hands of the officials of GRA, we wish to state some of our concerns as follows;“Extortion and harassment by GRA officials: So many task forces are deployed to monitor traders when GRA could leverage on cutting-edge systems,” the statement added.

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This announcement is issued in direct response to a statement issued by the Ghana Revenue Authority Workers Union (GRAWU), which aimed to contest the Vice President's claims.PRESS-RELEAS-GRAWUDownload

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