Churches must pay tax – Christian Council

Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Seth Agidi, has said churches and all Christians must be willing to pay taxes for the development of the nation.

According to him, churches that are purely into profit-making business, must pay tax because the law requires that businesses pay tax.

While speaking to Chief Jerry Forson on Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Thursday, 30 August, Rev. Agidi said Christians who fail to pay tax are not good Chiristians.

Rev. Dr. Agidi said: “I think a proper mechanism will be put in place to identify organisations and churches that are making profit and then pay the taxes for the development of the country.”

“Patriotic citizens or people who love their country should not be against taxes. Taxes are meant for development, if they are not being used well, yes, we can talk about it”.

Religious leaders and the Government of Ghana have agreed to set up a body that will ensure that religious institutions pay taxes on the income they generate.

On Wednesday, 29 August 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo met with members of the clergy at the seat of government, the Jubilee House, to discuss issues of national interest and to solicit their views on government's plans and programmes.

Rev. Victor Osei, Senior Pastor of the Family Chapel in Kumasi and Vice President of the National Association of Charismatic Churches, addressing the press after the closed session with the president, indicated that a body is to be set up within weeks that will regulate the taxing of religious establishments.

"The religious community is much more than the Church. We tend to forget that it includes Muslims, Bahia ... Eastern religions are all part of religious bodies. Normally, people just talk about the Church, but for all these bodies, some monies come out and some monies come in, so, at the end of the day, it should be all inclusive. All these things were spoken about and we know the way forward is going to be good," Rev. Victor Osei said.