Let’s work together for passage of 2022 Exemptions Bill- TJC- Ghana Chair

Chairman of Tax Justice Coalition – Ghana (TJC – Ghana) Mr. Vitus Azeem has urged parliament, Civil Society Organisations, tax experts, media, policymakers and stakeholders to offer constructive criticisms to shape and influence inputs ahead of laying, debates towards the passage of Exemptions Bill 2022 into law.

The Exemptions Bill which is currently before Ghana’s Parliament for consideration, if passed into law will protect Ghana’s revenue base.

Apart from that, it seeks to rationalise the current tax exemptions regime by limiting scope if necessary to consolidate the existing statutory provisions on exemptions. It will set up criteria for eligibility, provides for monitoring, enforcement, evaluation of exemptions and administration of exemptions.

According to Mr. Azeem, although the Exemptions Bill 2022 is well-intended and contains good provisions to safeguard Ghana’s revenue base, the attention of the Executive and Parliament needs to be drawn to genuine concerns that must be ironed out before passage.

Speaking at National Stakeholders Roundtable discussion on Ghana’s Exemption Bill by Tax Justice Coalition Ghana (TJC Ghana) under its Legislative Advocacy Project, the Ghana Revenue Programme, on the theme: “Sustainable Financing of Ghana’s Development:
Domestic Revenue Mobilisation & the Exemptions Bill in Ghana” on Friday 4 March 2022 in Accra-Ghana, the former Ghana Integrity Initiative Boss Mr. Vitus Azeem said “Civil Society Organisations and the media has a pivotal role in promoting tax payer education to provoke an informed debates are taken on tax policy in general, tax incentives management and transparency. The bill in its current form has good intentions but we must iron out certain concerns before passage “.

Participants resolved that the practice where the power to grant exemptions is solely vested in the Finance Minister could be the breeding grounds for denying qualified entities for exemptions, arising from extreme partisanship, political polarisation and divisiveness. In view of this, suggestions are being tabled to concentrate the power to grant exemptions at the hands of either a ministerial committee, secretariat or an entity with membership formed from civil society organisations and other professional groups in Ghana.

With the inception of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana, the revision of the Exemptions Bill 2021 and the laying of the Exemptions Bill 2022, it has become necessary for Policy makers to be re-engaged and Stakeholders convened to find a common path towards getting the Tax Exemptions Bill passed.

The Tax Justice – Ghana event sought to forge a common interest, strategize and work together for equitable and just tax system that serves both the developmental and democratic aspirations of the Citizens of Ghana; and to increase governmental responsiveness to domestic resource mobilisation, equitable redistribution of wealth, pro-poor and progressive taxation while meeting the fiscal needs of the country for sustained public services delivery.

According to the Coordinator of Tax Justice Coalition- Ghana, Mr. Louis Acheampong, resolutions from the TJC- Ghana meeting will be presented to parliament for inputs before the Exemptions Bill 2022 is laid for debates and passage.

Source : africaneditors.com /Jerry J. Akornor

Below are exclusive pictures from the meeting: