The Ashanti Regional Leadership of Ghana Union of Traders Association has stated emphatically that the association intention not harass, molest and intimidate any foreigner in Ghana.
The Association is calling on authorities to implement the statutory laws of Ghana without fear or Favour, saying Ghana is a sovereign state and its laws must be obeyed and adhered to by all and sundry whether one is a citizen or a Foreigner.
The Ashanti Regional Secretary for GUTA Aliu Mohammed addressing the media in Kumasi disclosed that some foreigners condone and connive with unscrupulous officials to do under invoice at the various ports of the entry into the country both land and sea, thereby denying the government of Ghana the much needed revenue to develop the country.
According to him, some foreigners do not pay taxes on their goods and products they bring into the country because they bring their goods through unapproved routes and evade taxes.
He said “There is phone accessories shop with registration ” E-power” at Acheamfour market in Adehyeman Kumasi which the compliance committee visited. It was discovered that, it is owned by a Nigerian and he making daily sales of about 60, 000 Ghana Cedis but he pays a paltry sum of 180 Ghana cedis as his VAT returns”.
He added that, a recent exercises undertaken by s joint GUTA and the various government institutions under the compliance committee, it was also found out that a shop owned by a foreigner, a Nigerian to be specific name “STANBRAVO” at Bantama in Kumasi stocked both medical items such as consumable and Agro chemicals in one warehouse.
“The exercise was not targeted on only Nigerians but rather all foreign nationals engaged in retail business such as Indians, Lebanese, Chinese, Egyptians and Malians. One may ask why Nigerians have only decided to cry wolf when there is no wolf”.
Story by Joseph Nana Yaw Cobbina