- The Ghana Revenue Authority has disclosed that nine institutions owe the state GH¢47 million in unpaid taxes, with Graphic Communications Group, GIHOC Distilleries, and Tema Oil Refinery topping the list.
- Appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong said the Authority is intensifying recovery efforts.
- An additional GH¢116 million in unpaid VAT liabilities also remains outstanding, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and improved compliance.
The Ghana Revenue Authority is tightening its grip on tax defaulters after revealing that nine institutions collectively owe the state GH¢47 million in unpaid taxes — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee on August 25, Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong named Graphic Communications Group (GH¢3.4 million), GIHOC Distilleries (GH¢2.1 million), and Tema Oil Refinery (GH¢136,000) as the top culprits. The bulk of the debt stems from corporate income tax arrears, with most of the defaulting entities being state-owned.
Officials from the GRA say persistent cash flow challenges have been cited by these institutions as the reason for their failure to meet tax obligations. But the Authority isn’t buying excuses. In addition to the GH¢47 million, it has flagged a staggering GH¢116 million in unpaid VAT liabilities — bringing the total outstanding amount to GH¢163 million.
Commissioner for Domestic Tax Revenue, Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, assured lawmakers that enforcement is being ramped up. The GRA is now deploying stricter compliance measures and working to close loopholes that allow institutions to delay payments.
The revelations come at a time when Ghana is under pressure to boost domestic revenue and meet fiscal targets under its IMF programme. With the next PAC hearing scheduled for September 29, all eyes will be on how quickly the GRA can turn promises into payment.
