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The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu has said citizens who refuse to pay tax are nation wreckers.

He made the comment at a 3-day workshop organised by the GRA for the Parliamentary Press Corps on the Taxation system in Ghana at Prampram in the Greater Accra region.

"Tax revenue constitutes a major source of funding for provision of infrastructure such as roads, schools, electricity, hospitals and potable water among other things hence the need for citizens to voluntarily pay taxes," the First Deputy Speaker said.

According to him "the role of the media is crucial in educating the public on the need for tax payment".

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament therefore commended the GRA for organising the workshop for the Parliamentary Press Corps which he said will help broaden the understanding of the participants on the tax system in the country.

Mr. Henry Yentumi Technical Advisor to the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the GRA has over the years rolled out some key reforms such as the Tax Identification Number (TIN), Excise Tax Stamp, the Paperless system and the Clearance Procedure which are all aimed at widening the tax net to generate more revenue for the development of the country.

The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps Nana Agyeman Birikorang expressed gratitude to the GRA for organizing the sensitization workshop for the Parliamentary Press Corps which he noted, will enhance the reportage of the members on tax.

Mr Zaahid Yusif Doku Principal Revenue Officer of the GRA took the press corps through Tax Administration in Ghana and the Role of the GRA.

"Revenue collections by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) increased from Ghc 4 billion, 625.88 million in 2009 to Ghc 33 billion, 623 .79 million in 2017 thereby contributing 12.61% to GDP in 2009 and 16.25% to GDP in 2017," Mr Doku stated.

In spite of the achievement, Mr Yusif Doku said the GRA faces a number of challenges such as revenue Collection leakages which occur through falsification of records, under and over invoicing and under declaration of sales by some business entities and some individuals who operate businesses in the country.

Other challenges according to Mr Yusif Doku include the large size of the informal sector made up of a large number of small businesses which do not keep proper records for tax purposes.

As part of the way forward, he said the GRA is enhancing collaboration with other government institutions such as the EOCO, the courts, the Ghana Police, the DVLA and the District Assemblies in revenue collection.

In addition he said, the GRA is deepening stakeholder engagements to enhance public understanding and appreciation of tax in the country.

Mr Randolph Kwasi Agyeman Senior Revenue Officer in charge of Policy and Programming of GRA urged companies and business operators to take advantage of the Voluntary Disclosure and Tax Amnesty period offered by the GRA to declare their taxable income and obtain their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) at the various branches of the GRA before the expiration of the period at the end of September 2018 to avoid sanctions by the GRA.

Hon Daniel Okyem Aboagye MP for Bantama and a Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament who made a presentation on "Making the taxation system in Ghana more effective - The perspective of an entrepreneur" said state resources must be use judiciously to better the lives of the people to encourage people and business entities in the country to pay tax.