Prioritise paying taxes regardless of occupation – NCCE urges Ghanaians

The Yilo Krobo Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Henrietta Glikpo, has urged Ghanaians to prioritise payment of taxes regardless of the nature or size of their work.

Paying taxes helps raise revenue to pay for state benefits and services such as health, education, defense, public order and safety, protection of the environment, and recreation.

She described it as essential to national development and economic growth.

Glikpo made the call at the distribution of livelihood support items to 74 Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) in Somanya by the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in the municipality.

The support aims to empower PWDs economically. She said tax paying is a civic responsibility that must be embraced by citizens engaged in any form of business, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

"Now it has been made simple. You do not need to own a big shop or business before you pay tax. There is a tax stamp that costs between 20 and 50 Ghana cedis for the whole year,” she revealed.

Glikpo reiterated that informal sector workers such as ice water sellers, barbers, masons, and petty traders were expected to contribute their quota to national development through tax payments.

“Do not say the government did not give you the job, so you will not pay tax. Whatever you are doing, just contribute your quota to the development of the nation,” she emphasized.

In a related development, the NCCE Municipal Director has appealed to residents to prioritize sanitation and environmental cleanliness and said that indiscriminate waste disposal and spitting in public places could lead to disease outbreaks.

She said poor sanitation practices affected vulnerable groups, including Persons Living With Disabilities.

Glikpo urged residents to adopt responsible sanitation habits to promote public health and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all members of society.