Committee To Study How Government Can Tax Churches In The Offing

A committee is likely to be formed to study ways in which government can tax aspects of the churches' commercial activities.

This was one of the outcomes from a closed meeting between the president and some prominent church leaders at the Jubilee House in Accra, Joy News' Elton John Brobbey reported.

Photo: Chief of Staff Frema Opare interacts with a section of reverend ministers

One of the pastors told Brobbey the issue of taxation was high on the agenda with a committee likely to be formed.

He did not say when that committee will be formed or who will be members of the committee.

If the committee is formed, however, it will become the first step government is taking since dropping hints about taxing churches.

The President gave the loudest indication of the taxation plan at a synod of the Global Evangelical church at the University of Ghana.

When churches "get into the wealth and prosperity sphere you necessarily slip into the tax and accounting language", he said on August 9.

Sections of the clergy have asked for clarity on government's plan explaining they already pay taxes on their income-generating activities.

It is not clear if government tax plans will include the more heated subject of offertory.

But the Ghana Revenue Authority has said it is prepared to give informants 25% of a penalty against churches hiding under a fellowship to conduct business without paying taxes.

The breakfast meeting was attended by charismatic leaders including Archbishop of the Action Faith Chapel International Nicholas Duncan-Williams and leaders of orthodox churches.

The President was joined by the Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Chief of Staff Frema Opare and Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Photo: Rev. Owusu Bempah in a handshake with Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com