Flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that his administration will grant a tax amnesty to all businesses and individuals in Ghana to start with a clean slate in 2025.
The Vice President made the revelation while interacting with members of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, March 20, in Accra.
“We are going to start with a clean slate in 2025. And that is why, in 2025, we are going to grant a tax amnesty to all businesses and individuals and start afresh, he said amidst applause from the audience.
“All businesses and individuals will have a tax amnesty and we will start afresh,” he reiterated.
The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, also expressed concerns over the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) modus operandi in tax mobilisation indicating the GRA “harasses businesses” under the guise of tax collection.
He therefore attributed the seeming harassment from the GRA on businesses to “achieving unrealistic targets.”
“They are harassing businesses. That harassment is coming from the sort of targets that are created at their office. They are setting unrealistic targets. And this is because the tax base is so narrow you say to them, this is your target for this month, and they are trying to figure out where do I go.
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“Then for them, it is very easy, you go back to where you had it the last time. You go to taxpayers, the people who are already paying taxes and then you have to come up with a new reason why they should pay more and so you come up with all sorts of stuff,” said Dr. Bawumia.
He proposed introducing a flat tax rate in 2025 and providing tax amnesty to businesses upon assuming office.
“So we are going to start the new system; it’s a flat tax system so we are going to wipe the slate clean for every individual and business,” he stated.
This, according to the NPP presidential candidate, will be a panacea to the issues businesses face with the GRA.