The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has responded to the controversy surrounding the donation of two helicopters by a mining company to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
In a statement released on October 20, the GRA clarified that KNUST has not imported any equipment into the country, and is therefore not subject to import duties or taxes.
The GRA further explained that the mining company had brought in the two helicopters in 2020 under the Temporary Admission Regime. This regime stipulates that the equipment should be re-exported after the agreed period.
If the mining company intends to transfer ownership of the helicopters to a third party, such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, it is obligated to settle the appropriate taxes and duties before transferring the helicopters to KNUST.
“For the incident in question, the mining firm brought in the two helicopters in 2020 under the Temporary Admission Regime, which requires that they are re-exported after the agreed period. If the firm wishes to transfer the ownership of the helicopters to a third party (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), they are required to pay the appropriate taxes and duties before handing them over to KNUST. This will prevent the possible abuse of the Temporary Admissions Regime by importers who apply for the waiver of duties but resort to donating the equipment as scrap as a way of evading payment of taxes.”
“Furthermore, KNUST has not imported any equipment into the country and therefore is not liable for import duty or taxes”.
The GRA entreated all importers to comply with the Tax Laws and procedures to ensure smooth trade facilitation and maximization of revenue for national development.
“Management of GRA further uses this opportunity to entreat all importers and the general public to comply with the Tax Laws and procedures to ensure smooth trade facilitation and maximizing revenue for national development. GRA is also committed to supporting Government’s agenda of enhancing education at all levels and would do all it can within its mandate to support education,” the GRA said