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The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has urged the public to pay taxes in order to facilitate national development.
According to him, the payment of taxes was an obligation of the people towards socio- economic growth of the country.
“We should be able to raise revenue, to be able to support government to execute the development agenda, so our refusal to pay our taxes means that there will be no funds for government to do that and we cannot also hold them accountable,” the National Chief Imam emphasised.
Sheikh Sharubutu made the call when the Board and Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) paid a courtesy call on him at his residence in Accra, on Thursday.
The religious engagement was part of the activities to mark GRA tax education month, and to sensitise the public to the fact that tax payment was a civic responsibilities and obligations of the citizens.
Sheikh Sharubutu called on all Muslims, especially business owners, to pay their taxes promptly and regularly, to enable the government to generate the needed revenue to invest in developmental projects.
“Our state of indebtedness is something that is unpalatable to us, and the management of GRA has made it clear to us that one of the means by which we can help ourselves out of indebtedness is to honour our tax obligations.
“The Holy Quran asks us to be supporters of one another and not be being supporters of each other is destructive. So paying of our tax is something constructive to the nation, and it goes the very heart of our development and our humanity,” he stated.
Sheikh Sharubutu commended the management for GRA for their commitment and hard work in generating revenue for national development, adding that he would continue to support the authority in prayers.
The Board Chairman of GRA, Mr Joe Ghartey, said authority visited the National Chief Imam to seek his support in its quest to educate the public on tax related matters.
He reminded the public that tax collection was a collective responsibility for all sectors and individuals, and not solely the duty of GRA.
Mr Ghartey, who is also Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan,
Noted that taxes generate 14 per cent of government revenue.
This according to him was not enough, “to keep up the developmental growth of the country,” and that, “insufficient revenue generation compel government to go for loads and grants.”
The Commissioner-General, Mrs Julie Essiam, also noted that community leadership engagement with religious leaders was to enhance payment of taxes for development.
The GRA presented ten bags of rice, six cartons of oil, 20 packs of water, 10 packs of soft drinks and five cartons of mackerel to the National Chief Imam as a token of appreciation.
