Taxation of items sold in churches: GRA Must reach out to the others and avoid the impression of discrimination and biases against the Church.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) must extend taxes on items sold in churches as listed by the GRA to other sectors and institutions that equally trade in such items during their meetings. Items that are sold in churches like water, stickers, paraphernalia etc are also sold at Political Party campaign meetings, Traditional festivals, Old Students Association meetings, Traditional Shrines, Mosques and other Professional Associations’ meetings. The GRA must prove itself to be fair to all in its Tax identification and collection efforts. Moreover, GRA as a matter of urgency must engage the Church leaders on the calculation of the taxes and payment processes. This will facilitate the collection of the taxes and payments.
Every responsible citizen must consider payment of taxes as a key civic responsibility and the Churches that have played roles as key partners in our national development must support the national resources mobilization efforts. However, such efforts must sustain and advance the established healthy church and state relationship by avoiding avoidable tensions.
Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong
Lecturer, Department of Religious Studies
KNUST Kumasi
kopunifrimpong.org