Sekondi, Feb. 21, GNA - The National Commission On Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, has launched a one-month tax education campaign in the Western Region.

In an address read on his behalf at the launch Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, said, "It would be an affront to the basic tenets of our constitution if we side step the payment of taxes". Mr. Amoah said an all-inclusive payment of taxes by citizens would enable the country to do many things on its own.

He said those who refused to honour their tax obligations to the state do a disservice to themselves since it makes it difficult for the state to provide the necessary goods and services for the citizenry. Mr. Amoah said for a long time, there had been an over-reliance on formal workers and well-known companies for payment of taxes. He said as good citizens, the people could help the country by informing revenue and security agencies about evasion of taxes by unscrupulous persons.

In an address read for him Mr. Kwaku Baa Owusu, Western Regional Director of NCCE, said it is the responsible of citizens to declare their income honestly to the appropriate and lawful agencies and to satisfy all tax obligations.

He said taxes form a major source of state income for development but there seem to be fundamental difficulties with administration of tax in the country.

Mr. Owusu said there is lack of education on the subject and consequently low appreciation of the process, procedure and efforts at revenue generation through tax and other related means.