Bekwai (Ashanti Region, ), 12 Oct. '98 Mr Robert Quansah of the Ashanti regional Value Added Tax (VAT) secretariat, has stressed the need to intensify VAT education in the rural areas.

He said the people in the rural areas should be educated on how the VAT is operated in order for them not to fall victim to people who would want to cheat them.

Mr Quansah was speaking at a forum on VAT organised by the Amansie East district secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Asante-Bekwai.

He said agricultural produce do not attract VAT, which is to replace the sales and service tax.

Mr Quansah advised manufacturers in the area to register with the VAT secretariat to enable the government generate revenue for development programmes.

Mr Yaw Oppong Fosu, district director of NCCE who chaired the function, urged the VAT secretariat and the CHRAJ to mount "intensive education campaigns in the rural areas" about the rights and responsibilities of the people. GRi