<<Print>>

The Minister of Business Development, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has called for a concerted effort to fight tax evasion.

According to him, in Ghana, although about 12 million people are potential tax payers, less than two million of the number pay their taxes, adding that both big and small corporate businesses are evading tax, describing it as unacceptable.

Speaking at an event organised by Alliance for Integrity in Accra, dubbed ‘Responsible Business & Integrity Week’, he indicated that no country develops without adequate domestic revenue mobilization.

He appealed to Alliance for Integrity to help support Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to improve its tax revenue.

The Minister intimated that the tax revenue is used to develop a country’s infrastructure, lamenting “We can’t continue to depend on foreigners for aid”.

Touching on how committed his government was to improve private businesses, he noted that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s primary objective was to build the most entrepreneurial, business-friendly and people friendly economy in Africa, which would create jobs and prosperity for all Ghanaians.

Dr. Awal opined that doing business with integrity, respecting human rights and fostering corporate sustainability are very relevant for growth and development of businesses and the economy as a whole.

“While the opportunities for massive economic growth are here, we should be mindful of the fact that issues of lack of integrity can derail our potential to excel.

“Therefore, as a government, we have taken the topic of anti-corruption very seriously, which is why the president has sworn into office the Special Prosecutor, to among others investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption and other criminal offences” he noted.
In a related development, the Minister launched the ‘IntegrityAPP’ which is meant to fight corruption.

The App is a mobile application and an online platform designed to help companies prevent corruption. 

The Chief Executive Officer of Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), Nana Osei Bonsu, speaking on corruption, said, in a competitive world of corruption, every businessman want to cut corners.

He indicated that “galamseyers are doing what they find themselves doing because they want to get money the wrong way so they can get profit”, suggesting that ‘Galamseyers’ could have operations licensed to involve in a genuine business.