Awell-known event venue, called “Underbridge” at East Legon, in the Greater Accra region, has been shut down by the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) enforcement unit.
In a statement to the media, GRA Accra Area Enforcement Manager Joseph Annan explained that the facility’s management had failed to register and provide Value Added Tax (VAT)receipts to its customers, hence their closure.
“They have not registered for VAT as a business, and this is an offence. So we have no option than to lock up the place until they register and pay the penalties that will be slapped on them.
They know that as a business, you must register with the GRA and pay your taxes accordingly, “he added.
Mr. Annan declared that the event centre would remain closed indefinitely unless its tax obligations were fulfilled.
The primary responsibility of the GRA is to ensure that all applicable tax laws are strictly followed in order to support the government’s financial sustainability, facilitate trade, and maintain a controlled and secure flow of goods across the country’s borders.
Aside from the event centre Underbridge, other businesses have been found culpable for failing to adhere to the Authority’s terms and conditions.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the GRA team also visited Tema Industrial Area. In the process of inspection, eight cold store businesses were closed down because they were operating with fictitious VAT invoices.
The criminal investigation department officials involved in the exercise also arrested some managers of these cold stores.
In the meantime, the GRA has threatened to punish organizations that do not pay their taxes on time.
Source: The Independent Ghana