<<Print>>

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority says howls for his resignation over the alleged Ghc144 million Subah scandal are needless. George Blankson has been accused of doling out the hefty sum to Subah Info Solutions for no work done. The IT firm was contracted in 2010 by the revenue agency for telecommunication traffic monitoring services for the collection of Communication Service Tax (CST). Apart from monitoring the quantity of calls and data trafficking through the mobile telecommunication networks, the contract awarded Subah was also to ensure that the service providers charged the correct rates and taxes on the quantity of calls transmitted through their systems. The monitoring system was meant to make sure the telcos do not under-declare their revenue obligation � payment of the Communications Service Tax (CST) � to the GRA. Contrary to reports that the GRA paid Ghc144 m to the firm for no work done, Blankson told Journalists at a press conference on Monday that only about Ghc75m was paid to Subah between 2010 and August 2012. Anti-graft body Ghana Integrity Initiative has demanded that Blankson and all Officials involved in the payment of the money should be asked to step aside and prosecuted. The Commissioner General however questions the basis for such calls. ��The Commissioner General should step aside precisely for what reason?� He enquired from journalists who put the question to him on Monday. �Can you please tell me the basis for what you are saying�, he queried the Journalist and added that the �contract was entered into before this Commissioner-General came into place�. He said Subah was paid �on the basis of the less revenue based on the less work done� and not on the total Communication Service Tax (CST) collected.