You won’t exist without business community; stop intimidating traders – GUTA tells GRA

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has bared teeth at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over what it has described as harassment of traders and the business community.

In the last few months, GRA officials have been seen going around to close shops over non-VAT compliance.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 20, GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng admonished traders to resist attempts by GRA officials to close their shops.

GUTA president said the harassment, impunity, and intimidation of traders by the customs division of the GRA is unacceptable.

He raised concerns why importers across the country are compelled to pay taxes including VAT at the ports and will be chased again at their shops to pay additional VAT.

Dr. Obeng warned that GUTA will not sit for importers to be treated like criminals, adding that it is in the best interest of the country for GRA to work with its members as partners rather than enemies.

“What the GRA must also know is that it is the business community that constitutes the economy without which there will be no economy. With or without GRA, businesses will continue to exist, but GRA cannot exist without the business community,” the GUTA boss argued.

He continued, “Therefore, they must see the need to work with us as partners in national development but not to behave in this manner in their quest for meeting the revenue target set for them by the government by collapsing businesses and eventually collapsing the economy, which we, as business operators, won’t allow because we are equal stakeholders as far as corporate Ghana is concerned.”

Dr. Joseph Obeng further served a warning that GUTA will team up with other trade groups to match GRA boot for boot.