According to the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu, those who evade taxes are nation wreckers since taxes mobilized by any government are used for nation building.
According to the Bekwai MP, the media is a very useful medium in propagating the message for Ghanaians to know and understand their responsibilities and pay the appropriate taxes.
He advised the media to use their platform in educating Ghanaians about the importance of taxes to a nation rather than reportage geared towards some cynical presentation to assume exploitation.
Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu further revealed that the Tax Identification Number (TIN) must be discussed linking it with nation building. It is therefore up to the media to educate the public rather than discouraging it.
In his statement, he indicated that “Discussion on TIN should point out that every Ghanaian who earns some income contribute to the poll, from which we build the nation. Therefore any Ghanaian who does not obtain TIN and pay his or her taxes is a nation wrecker. In other jurisdictions, if you are identified as someone who does not pay your taxes, when you go out to sit at a restaurant no one wants to sit by you, because you do not want the country to progress. Even your friends would not come to you, because you are a nation wrecker. That is the orientation we need to put out there to Ghanaians. People pay tithe at church because the pastors spend a lot of time making them feel like sinners if they do not make their contributions”.
He made this remarks over the weekend when the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) organised a workshop for members of the Parliamentary press corps at Prampram.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
