A former CEO of Stanbic Bank, Alhassan Andani, has expressed strong criticism of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) methods, likening their approach to a terrorist organisation for the aggressive tactics employed in tax collection.
Speaking at the Ghana CEO Presidential Gala Dinner in Accra on Thursday, November 7, 2024, Andani decried the GRA’s approach, which he described as ‘rambo-style’, arguing that it places undue pressure on businesses.
“GRA has become a terrorist organisation. I know a number of organisations, anytime the GRA gets into their space, it’s as if they deliberately do it to wriggle people’s arms to take money. When GRA is coming, it is like a terrorist coming. It’s supposed to be you file what you projected to do for the year, and you pay tax quarterly.”
“…We just have to rationalise it and give this very emerging capital or private sector people time to breathe,” Andani indicated.
The GRA, tasked with ensuring compliance with tax laws and generating sustainable revenue for the government, also plays a role in facilitating trade and regulating goods flow across Ghana’s borders.
