The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has extended its tax compliance education to traders in the Binduri, Bawku and the Garu-Tempane Districts of the Upper East Region.
The two institutions conducted the education and sensitisation programmes on Tax compliance in areas such as; Markets, Churches, Mechanic shops, hair dressers salons, and dress-makers shops among others.
The exercise formed part of a nationwide programme on tax compliance campaign on the theme; “Our Tax, Our Future”.
Mr Daniel Baya Laar, the Binduri District Director in charge of NCCE explained that government depended much on the tax to undertake development projects, hence the need to honour their tax obligations.
Mr Kingsley Asoko the Garu-Tempane District Director in charge of the NCCE urged the traders to pay their taxes regularly to enable government finance its budget and bring about development projects to their communities.
The District Director indicated that tax compliance was a constitutional requirement and punishable by law to those who failed to honour their tax duties to state.
The traders comprised market women, carpenters, dressmakers, hairdressers and others. They applauded the campaign and pledged to honestly declare their incomes and pay their taxes.
The business groups however indicated that the distance between the districts and Bawku, where they are supposed to pay the taxes was a barrier because it was inconveniencing to travel to Bawku frequently to pay their taxes.
They therefore asked the GRA to periodically visit the districts and traders to collect the tax or establish offices in the district to carry out their tax collection duties.