The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) in the Volta Region has engaged over 1000 communities on tax compliance in the second phase of its tax sensitisation campaign.
The campaign is aimed at helping the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) widen the tax net by selling the concept of voluntary compliance and registering for Tax Identification Number (TIN) to the citizenry.
Mr Kenneth Kponor, Regional Director, NCCE told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the Commission penetrated inland communities and expanded its reach in the farming areas through series of engagements in dawn to dusk broadcasts.
He explained that the NCCE used community durbars and other public gatherings to rally the support of religious leaders and opinion leaders to help the communities understand the role of tax revenue.
Mr Kponor noted that accessibility to tax offices remained a concern in remote communities and said the recently launched tax clinic by the GRA was yielding positive results in TIN registration and filing of returns.
He said the GRA had the capacity to calculate all categories of tax returns and urged farmers in remote communities to contribute in building a resilient and favourable business economy.
Mr Francis Dusey, Ho Municipal Director, NCCE said the campaign covered small business operators, farmers and traders in the Municipality on the importance of TIN registration and voluntary tax contributions.
Madam Ellen Adzovi Amankwa, the Afadzato South District Director, NCCE said the message of voluntary tax compliance was well received, and hoped that registrations for TIN and filing of returns in the area would increase significantly.
Madam Evelyn Klokpodzi, NCCE Director, Akatsi North District said commercial motorbike operators were also educated on tax compliance, and noted that potential tax contributors in the area promised to faithfully contribute to the tax pool to support the development of the District and the Nation as a whole.
Mr Kenneth Karikari, Krachi West District Director of the Commission said outreach programmes in the area were focused on market centres as well as remote, and island communities on the Volta and Oti Rivers.
Mr Francis Asamani, Director of the Commission in the Adaklu District said among others, communities of nomadic herdsmen were also sensitised, whiles Mr Steven Mensah of the Jasikan District said artisans, petty traders and farmers were not left out in sensitisation exercise.