Two Chinese supermarkets were among six businesses that were busted by the enforcement and compliance team of the Ghana Revenue Authority for not issuing Value Added Tax invoice.
Today’s operation in the Ashiaman and Tema Metropolis focused on these firms that have not been issuing the VAT invoice.
The team from the GRA and the Criminal Investigations Department picked up two Chinese supermarket managers and four local retail operators who were busily serving customers as of the time of their arrest.
The move is part of the continuous effort by the GRA to mobilise adequate revenue for the state.
According to the head of the team, Joseph Annan, these six persons will be made to face the law by paying higher penalties.
“None of them have come to us that they don’t qualify, but we have arrested them for not issuing VAT invoice or infractions. We will also look at the size of their businesses before we even go into the databases”.
“So, if any of them is not registered, they will be picked up. Then your penalties are more than the one who is registered”, he disclosed.
In all, 19 persons have been picked up so far to face prosecution over the VAT infractions.
Mr. Annan hinted that two of the managers who were facing the same charges were made to pay their penalties after an audit.
“At least, two people who were arrested as part of the exercises were audited and made to pay their penalties. The CID is preparing their documents so that the prosecution can continue from there”, he said.
Failure to issue the VAT invoice has denied the state of revenue to embark on certain government businesses.
source: JoyNews
