Prove Your Allegations!

The senior staff association of the Value Added Tax Service has challenged the Ashanti regional minister, S. K. Boafo, to report any of its members to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution if he has evidence of wrongdoing against them. The association threw the challenge at its fourth biennial meeting in Accra yesterday.

Referring to a statement attributed to the minister in the paper of June 11, Ruskin Y. Yusuf Quainoo, president of the association said ?we of the association wish to express our dismay at the way and manner the regional minister made the statement and the way the paper alone carried it.?

?We want to use this forum to state that we have taken great exception to the derogatory and unsubstantiated remarks that will destroy the hard won reputation and image of the VAT Service?, he warned.

At a function on June 9, Mr Boafo accused officials of VAT in Kumasi of extorting money from business enterprises in the region.

Speaking at a seminar on the Financial Administrative Act and the Public Procurement Act for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Kumasi, the minister said he had received a number of complaints from the public which justified his accusation and asked them to ensure ?high level of professionalism and sincerity in the performance of their duties.?

Mr Quainoo faulted the minster for making the statement at a forum meant to sensitize MDAs to transact business with VAT registered traders.

?Why did he make the statement at a time that the services had launched its national registration exercise after an intensive advertisement in the mass media? ? he asked.