Central Region Exceeds Vat Target

The Central Regional secretariat of the Value Added Tax (VAT) collected more than 10 billion cedis as against a target of nine billion cedis last year.

Mr Ben Hutchful, Deputy Regional Commissioner who made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Cape Coast yesterday, said the secretariat exceeded its target through intensified education, which prompted many companies and traders to readily pay the tax, and the registration of more businesses in the region.

Mr Hutchful said his outfit arrested nine traders last year for failing to issue Vat receipts to consumers, and they will soon be put before court to serve as a deterrent.

He said his office would continue to educate the public on the need to pay VAT and added that defaulters are liable to a fine of 10 million cedis or in default five years imprisonment.

He mentioned lack of logistics as the major problem facing the office and appealed to the government to consider opening more branches in the region to enhance their work.

Manwhile, the Minister of Environment and Science, Professor Dominic Fobih has dismissed rumours that the government would from this year, increase the Valued Added Tax (VAT), from 12 and a half to 17 and a half per cent.

Prof. Fobih, who was addressing the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District People's Assembly, at Abura Dunkwa, re-assured Ghanaians that the government was sensitive to their plight and would therefore, not do anything to worsen it.

On the intended increase in the price of petroleum products, he explained that this is being necessitated by the increase in the price of crude oil on the world market, but said whatever decision the government would take, would be in their "best interest", and reiterated that Ghanaians would soon reap the positive result of government policies.

The Minister, was of the view that the people's assembly was imperative, since it is the only means through which the democratic machinery could be brought to the doorstep of the people at the grassroots.

He, in this regard, appealed to all well-meaning citizens to support the government by contributing positively to the democratic process for accelerated development.

The District Chief Executive, Mr. Andrew Mensah, said the government "is bearing sweet fruits" in the district since its assumption of office two years ago because it has been able to step up the development of the area.

These include the development of educational infrastructure, and of the agricultural and health sectors, and urged the people, to give the government a "second chance", since it was capable of delivering to their satisfaction.

The Odikro of Abura-Dunkwa, Nana Osam Kwesi VII, who chaired the function appealed to Ghanaians to change their attitudes for the better, if the country is to witness any development, and observed that no government would give anything bad to its people, but pointed out much depends on the people themselves.

People from all walks of life, including, teachers, farmers, traders, public and civil servants asked questions ranging from the state of the economy, to the Gulf crisis, which Prof. Fobih and his team, including the Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Edumadze, provided answers.