Private Hostels At Ho Poly Closed Down Over �High� Tax

Students of Ho polytechnic risk facing accommodation challenges as more private hostel owners are closing down their facilities due to their inability to redeem tax obligations. About five hostels have already folded up with others threatening to follow suit. The move, according to them, is as a result of what they say is the heavy tax rate imposed on them by Revenue Collection Agencies. According to them, the tax rates are too expensive, adding that their constant payment is crippling their business. They explained that most of the facilities are private residences dedicated to the students due to inadequate housing facilities at the Polytechnic. Mr Johnson Degboe the President of the �Private Hostel Operators� revealed that revenue collection agencies are �mistakenly� charging them as high as GH�80 million for commercial services. He added �we are advising ourselves to withdraw because we foresee blood bath in event of failing to pay the taxes.� A precursor to these threats was an incident where police officers led by officials of Environmental Protection Agency reportedly hijacked some hostels and ejected students because they failed to meet their tax obligations. Mr Ben Honyenuga the Dean of Students for the Polytechnic who share in the frustrations of the hostel owners buttressed the impact of the situation �the reality is that some of the figures these people are too exorbitant and there is no way the hostel owners would be able to pay these fees and still manage the hostels� adding �it was an appeal the Polytechnic made to the landlords in the community to house the students since we do not have enough accommodation; if we charge these homes on commercial rates, it would affect the operations of the polytechnic.� He however suggested a stakeholder engagement on the issue. The disgruntled hostel operators disclosed their concerns at a forum organised by the Rector of the Polytechnic Pof Emmanuel Sakyi to regulate activities of the private hostels in the Polytechnic community. The forum among other things sought to engage industry players which include the Ghana Tourism Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Revenue Authority and Ho Municipal Assembly in restructuring the private hostel systems in the school as well as consider measures to acquire adequate accommodation for students. Commenting on the development, the Volta Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Kwame Gyasi explained that most of the private facilities housing the students do not meet the criteria of being a hostel.