On December 8, 2022, some Chinese workers at quarry sites in Kasoa, in the Central region, let loose dogs on representatives of the Ghana Revenue Authority's Tax Enforcement Unit (GRA).

As part of efforts to increase revenue collection in the nation, the GRA officials were engaged in an exercise to enforce tax compliance.

The Chinese nationals released the canines as soon as they spotted them on the premises, according to Joseph Annan, Head of Enforcement at the GRA in charge of Accra Central, who was speaking to press.

"Today we had several unpleasant experiences. Dogs were released on us, but Mr. Annan gave credit to our security personnel and the preventative staff.

He said that the Attorney General's Office will handle the case.

“The case will be investigated and then the docket will be completed and handed over to our legal unit for possible prosecution”, he stressed.

Giving more information, Mr. Annan claimed that because the Tax Enforcement Unit is a specific unit trained to deal with violent circumstances, the team was successful in calming the dogs.

“They were able to quell the situation. There are a lot of Chinese nationals operating here without paying the VAT, and when we come to enforce the law, they open their dogs. We will deal with them for trying to push us back”.

The quarry businesses that the team visited include Executive Quarry, Pilot Stone Quarry, Tonnisco Quarry, and Hao Xin Quarry.

“They are all Chinese companies operating in Ghana without paying the VAT”, Mr. Annan said.

The team conducted a previous operation in the Shai-Osudoku Municipality, where several quarry enterprises had been closed down for failing to pay taxes, prior to the exercise.

In order to guarantee that the proper taxes are paid throughout the holiday season, Mr. Annan indicated that the GRA will focus on business owners in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Nearly 100 major events are scheduled for December, according to the GRA, and the authority will be closely watching them for tax compliance.