GRA Pursues GHS 1 Billion in Unpaid Taxes from 10 State Institutions
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is seeking to recover over GH¢1 billion in unpaid taxes from ten state institutions, including the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
This issue was highlighted during a session with the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, July 29.
Despite assurances from some entities about their intentions to settle their debts, the committee expressed concerns about the viability of others, such as the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which are seen as less likely to meet their obligations.
A GRA representative noted that cash flow difficulties are affecting several state agencies’ ability to fulfill their tax commitments.
“GACL and Graphic Corporation currently are having cash flow challenges. They’ve indicated to us that we need to give them a moratorium to be able to come back to us. So, for them, they are prepared to pay once their cash flow improves,” the representative stated.
Addressing the issue, Abena Osei Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, suggested that writing off debts could be a viable option for companies unlikely to repay.
“Mr Chairman, we have done this before. We brought it to parliament; we went through a process and brought some to parliament for parliament to write it off. If it becomes necessary after all avenues to collect these monies have failed, we will go through that process and then come to Parliament for permission to do that,” she said.
The situation underscores the broader financial management challenges within state institutions and highlights the need for effective strategies to address these fiscal issues.
The committee’s discussions reflect a growing urgency to ensure financial accountability and sustainability within the public sector.
