Statistician says survey not for taxation

The Government Statistician, Dr (Mrs) Philomena Nyarko, has appealed to business operators not to be nervy over the upcoming Integrated Business Survey (IBES) because it is not for purposes of taxation.

She said the survey was only an economic census to be conducted in all economic units of every sector of the Ghanaian economy to provide a register of businesses in the country.

Dr Nyarko said it it represented the first ever comprehensive study that seeks to collect and compile data on economic activities, to develop a business register, which would serve as useful guide to investors, policy makers, researchers, the donor community, interested organizations and individuals.

Answering a question at a day’s sensitization workshop on the IBES in Kumasi, Dr Mrs Nyarko said taxation was not the goal and asked business owners not to entertain any fear.

The $10.6 million census begins in September and would collect information on all non-household businesses.

She said it was a bold attempt to ensure that businesses in the informal sector which were hitherto not covered in national surveys were covered while obtaining benchmark data for the structure to measure the contribution of each sector to the national economy.

This is expected to be completed by the end of the year with the publication of the register on the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) website, to provide accurate data for decision making.

Dr Mrs Nyarko said about 8,000 enumerators have been recruited and trained for the exercise and appealed for the support and co-operation of business associations and groups by providing credible information.

Mr Anthony Krakah, the Project Coordinator, said the register that would be developed would become a vital source of information for employment as well as key data source for analyzing business activities.

Mr Kwame Boadi Danso, Ashanti Regional Head of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, said Ghana had strong growth potential and that what was needed was to support the people, especially the youth to unearth their potential to contribute to the nation’s development.