Bolgatanga: Tax and Good Governance Week Launched

     

  

The Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA says the generation of the free Tax Identification Number by potential taxpayers, has been simplified through an initiative called the Total Revenue Integrated processing System. 

This came to light at the Regional launch of the Tax and Good Governance Week held in Bolgatanga. 

The Bolgatanga Small Tax Paying Office, Mark-Donald Pwawari, who gave the hint said with the system in place, TIN can be generated within minutes, stressing that taxpayers are only required to visit the nearest Domestic Tax Revenue Offices with any recognised ID card to complete their forms for the TIN. 

Report

Payment of tax is considered a legal requirement and a fundamental ingredient for the state to function effectively. In Ghana, most business set ups and individuals are still reluctant and fail in their civic duty to honour their tax obligation despite vigorous public education. 

Quite worrying is the fact that out of the estimated six million people, a little over one million are registered with the Ghana Revenue Authority, the country’s public regulatory body mandated by law to mobilize revenue for national development.  

 This situation has created huge budget deficits which are often bridged through government borrowing and support from donor partners. 

The institution of the Tax and Governance Week was therefore organised to bring to the attention the need for the citizenry, particularly potential tax payers to fulfil their tax mandate as required by law.

 The launch held concurrently across the country follows the president’s directive to all ministers of state and other public officials to file their tax returns before April 30^th deadline. 

In the same vein, the GRA is requesting all citizens to also file their income tax returns and obtain TIN certificates or risk doing business with key state institutions. 

Addressing the gathering, the Bolgatanga Collection Sector Commander of the GRA Customs Division, Francis Tanlongo, encouraged all citizens to file and pay their taxes promptly as this will help ensure a significant increase in revenue for national development. 

Under the new tax regime, government has declared a tax amnesty to enable taxpayers register, file returns and make outstanding payments for previous years without the imposition of interest and penalties or prosecution. 

These interventions are aimed at ensuring voluntary compliance by the taxpayer. 

In a speech read for him, the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari entreated Ghanaians to help actualise the president’s vision of Ghana-Beyond Aid by cooperating with the GRA in its tax campaign.

 Launching the event on the theme: Filing Your Tax Returns, Your Civic Responsibility’, the Bolgatanga Small Tax Paying Office, Mark-Donald Pwawari, hinted that with the TIN registration was free and with the Total Revenue Integrated processing System in place, it takes just some few minutes to generate a TIN, hence the need for all to get the TIN to able to access services from key institutions. 

The launch of the Tax and Good Governance week attracted employers as well as business reps among other potential taxpayers. Dignitaries present including the Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Azonko took the opportunity to file their tax returns.

GBCs Isaac Asare

40- year old Fati Bukari seeks financial assistance to undergo hip replacement surgery

Forty year old, Fati Bukari from Bolgatanga is diagnosed with severe Osteoarthritis of the right hip that requires an amount of Seven Thousand Dollars to enable her undergo urgent surgery. 

A medical report from the Tamale Teaching hospital indicates that Madam Bukari needs a total hip replacement. In addition, she needs Thirteen Thousand, 260 Ghana cedis to receive medication for hepatitis C viral infection. 

Meanwhile, the mother of two is currently being managed for other conditions including avascular necrosis of the pit femur.

 Madam Bukari however seeks financial assistance from individuals and corporate bodies to enable her undergo a successful operation.

   

Report

Madam Fati Bukari who is a native of Bolgatanga and resident in Accra is a hairdresser by profession.  She told Radio Ghana that she closed from work one day and decided to take a nap which she did.   

She narrated that faithful day she was healthy and strong only to wake up feeling weak and in an excruciating pain. According to her, it took the son to get her out of her bed.

 She lamented that due to the severity of her condition, she was quickly rushed to the Mamobi Polyclinic where several medical tests were conducted on her to ascertain the cause of her predicament. 

 She stressed that even though she was treated and discharged, her condition worsened a month later when she visited the sister in Bolgatanga.

 She said at that point, she could no longer stand on her feet so she was sent to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, TTH, and the x-ray report that followed proved that she needed a total hip replacement which will cost her 7000 dollars or cedi equivalent of 31,000 Ghana cedis. 

Signed by Dr Tolgou Yempabe, a Consultant Orthopaedic at the TTH, the report indicates that Madam Bukari is diagnosed with sever Osteoarthritis and needed urgent financial assistance to cater for her condition. 

Narrating her ordeal with Radio Ghana, Madam Bukari pleaded with all well-meaning Ghanaians to assist her to undergo a successful surgery. 

Meanwhile, medical report from the Department of Nephrology at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital dated March 16, 2018 suggests that Madam Bukari is being diagnosed and managed of systematic hypertension, Avascular necrosis of the pit femur and Hepatitis C viral infection. 

She is however receiving medication for the said conditions but is unable to afford the medication for the Hepatitis C viral infection which currently cost 13,260 Ghana cedis. 

Breaking down in tears, Madam Bukari, a widow and a mother of two who could barely walk, is unable to raise the specified amount is again appealing to all to assist her in that regard.

Any assistance can be channelled through a Ghana Commercial Bank, GCB account (9011010013235) bearing the name Fati Bukari. The account has Isaac Asare and Sophia Ackumey all of GBC URA Radio as signatories.  The patient, Madam Fati Bukari can also be contacted on 0244893675.
 

GBC