BANLAW Africa Limited denies confrontation with VAT Officers

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - BANLAW Africa Limited, a sub-contracting mining firm, based in Tarkwa, has denied a Ghana News Agency report about a confrontation between its Financial Controller, Mr Ian Kotze and VAT Officials, who wanted to close down the Company.

In a rejoinder to the story signed by Mr Wisdom Agbekey, Industrial Relations Officer, the Company said,=94 there was no confrontation between the Financial Controller of BANLAW Africa Ltd. Mr. Ian Kotze and the VAT officials to prevent them from sealing our offices.

=93It said there was no GNA reporter among the team of reporters/Journalists, who accompanied VAT Officials to the premises of BANLAW.

=93That, Goldfields Ghana Limited (GFGL) Tarkwa mine did pay the 3.6 billion cedis to VAT, but payment was made against invoices submitted to GFGL for work completed by Banlaw Africa Ltd.=94 It said; 93the 3.6 billion cedis paid represented BANLAW AFRICA tax for partly 2006. All 2003-2005 VAT due has been paid by Banlaw, adding that when the VAT Officials arrived, they went to the office of the Financial Controller and declared their purpose. =93The financial controller asked the officer of the VAT Service Mr. Henry Sam to let them sit down and negotiate payment, which Mr Sam declined.

At this stage Mr Kotze allowed the VAT officials to carry out with their business.=94

Kotze, Financial Controller of the company, had a confrontation with VAT officials.=94

Mr Samuel Ackah Blay, Wassa West District Principal Revenue Officer, has confirmed that there was exchange of words between the Financial Controller and the VAT Officials, the GNA, therefore, stands by the earlier story.