Accra (Greater Accra Region) 12 Oct 1998 Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills has inaugurated a nine-member Board charged with the management of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to be introduced before the end of the year.

The Board, chaired by Mr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Communications, is to ensure the efficient, effective and optimum collection of all taxes, penalties and interest related to VAT.

Prof. Mills, who administered the oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance to the members, said the Board is responsible for approving the scheme, terms and conditions of service of staff of the new VAT Service.

"You need ... to assist in establishing a service that has a properly motivated staff; that will be free from any act or omission which may give rise to allegations of corruption and inefficient practices in dealing with the nation's taxpayers.

"You are charged with ensuring that the service carries the nation through a peaceful implementation of the Value Added Tax." of VAT and result in the attainment of the targeted zero budget deficit by 2001.

He said massive public education has ensured that many people have a better understanding of VAT than when the first attempt was made in 1995.

Prof. Mills presented VAT Certificates to six companies which have registered for VAT.

They are Ghana Bottling Company Limited, Multi-Media Broadcasting Company Limited, and AP Lintas Company Limited. The rest are North Ridge Hotel Limited, Latex Foam Rubber Products Limited, and BMC Motors Limited. GRi