Bishop of the Methodist Church, Â Kumasi Diocese Right Rev. Christopher Nyarko Andam has called on the government to task well-established churches with specific social responsibility projects instead of a contemplating slapping taxes.
His suggestion comes in the wake of growing calls to tax religious bodies that are into businesses as part of government’s revenue drive.
Read: Akufo-Addo backs calls to tax churches in the ‘wealth and prosperity sphere’
Bishop Andam believes since churches are not profit making entities, government should place emphasis on regulating their activities to benefit society.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has indicated the plant to introduce taxes is fuelled by extravagant lifestyles being exhibited by some pastors.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has dropped the latest hint that churches aquiring wealth could be taxed as he delivered stinging criticisms at some churches.
The President speaking at a synod of the Global Evangelical church at the University of Ghana, remarked that the church is becoming a pale shadow of what it used to be generations ago.
He observed that churches have shifted from charity to prosperity and said calls for churches and their leaders to be taxed are understandable.
Read: Churches’ businesses will be taxed – GRA
“I am not getting into the merits and demerits of the prosperity gospel that appears to be the main theme for many of our present-day churches. The Good Lord knows I preach prosperity myself, and I do not want this country and its people to be poor, and I am very much for wealth creation”.
“But the difficult truth once you get into the wealth and prosperity sphere you necessarily slip into the tax and accounting language”, the president said.
The Methodist Bishop however notes traditional churches have and continued to invest in society before the springing up of what has become known as one-man churches.
He said taxing churches will amount to double taxation since money individuals contribute to them are already taxed incomes.
Read: Church taxes: Be clear on your position or shut up – Opuni-Frimpong to critics
“The money we receive from the people are voluntary money from the congregation and they have already been taxed from its source. But looking at what some churches are doing it will be prudent that government to rather make them undertake some projects to help community,†he added.
Meanwhile, Bishop Andam urges Ghanaians to support newly-appointed Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah, to succeed in her new responsibility.
He also admonishes those who are chastising her predecessor, Charlotte Osei , to desist from such attack.
He spoke to Luv FM on the sidelines of an Annual Healing and Prophetic Conference of the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church.
Source: Nhyira FM
