Ghanaians on the bird app, Twitter, have unleashed several words of wrath on the administration charged with the task of assessing, collecting and accounting for tax revenue, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
In a post sighted by hotfmghana.com on Twitter by GRA verified handle, the institution articulated that the Covid-19 Health Recovery Levy is still mandatory unless the lawmakers of the 4th Republic amended or repealed the law.
”We receive this question a lot on here. GRA’s mandate is to collect revenue from taxes and levies as enacted by parliament. The basis of revenue collection is the law. The Covid-19 Health Recovery Levy Act, 2021, Act 1068, did not have an end date and so the GRA must continue to collect until the law is amended or repealed’, GRA official Twitter stated’.
As part of efforts to improve compliance, the Authority(GRA) is required to assist taxpayers to understand and meet their tax obligations by providing robust and comprehensive advice further explaining that the said levy was introduced in 2021 to help the country recover from the effects of the pandemic.
”To add to this, the Covid levy was introduced to help the country recover from the effects of Covid. Although the global pandemic has ended, Government may need to cover for expenses incurred during its time. After which, Government will take steps to make the necessary changes” GRA stated.
Meanwhile, netizens have criticized the still decision of the Authority.
Original Tweet
We receive this question a lot on here. GRA’s mandate is to collect revenue from taxes and levies as enacted by parliament. The basis of revenue collection is the law. The Covid-19 Health Recovery Levy Act, 2021, Act 1068, did not have an end date and so the GRA must continue to… https://t.co/xeBbxPkFnn
— GRA (@GhanaRevenue) May 17, 2023
Check some of the Tweets below:
Is high time @GhanaRevenue tell us exact amount they have receive as covid levy we keep paying buy we don’t know what that money is been use for.
— Sam (@Vandee05) May 18, 2023
Not sure Ghanaians leaders will ever enjoy eternal life…..
Hell fire straight. ……..— 👨✈️Exodus🪖🔫💓👨✈️ (@prof_exodus) May 18, 2023
It shows how wicked you are
— Eugene® (@eugenezorg) May 18, 2023
Can’t the GRA draw the MoF’ attention as a stake holder to withdraw it during the mod year review?
— Tei .Mensah (@Teimensah1) May 17, 2023
In summary “we’ll continue to do unlooking and collect the money till parliament tells us to stop.”
Meaning GRA can’t think on its own? It’s sad— 5LICK (@iamslick) May 17, 2023
Heard of expediency?! It is within your jurisdiction to advice parliament about scrapping it completely since it has outlived it’s purpose for being implemented unless you want to tell us you are a micro-managed institution!
— NuhPressure👁️🗨️ (@bandile_bellos) May 17, 2023
The ordinary Ghana is still being charged for Covid levy in a bid to recover from its effects and yet we still go for huge sums of loan. What’s then is the purpose? 🤨🤔
— Kelvine (@Kelvinepk) May 18, 2023
you people have forced many businesses out of business and you’re still not satisfied?
it’s a shame we have a government as this who thinks taxes will enrich the economy.
all our natural resources couldn’t save ghana but it’s taxes that will?
shameful and pitiful— kofi (@kofi3x) May 18, 2023
The Finance Minister should be explaining why this tax is still here but guess what, the same people will defending when you tag the Finance minister as a failure lol.
— Amen (@realfrankjustin) May 17, 2023