Regional News of Thursday, 25 November 2004

Source: GNA

Re-engineer Internal Revenue Service -Assistant Commissioner

Kumasi, Nov 25, GNA- The Assistant Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in-charge of Ashanti Region, has called on the Government to modernise the tax administration of the country and solve the critical problems facing the Service.

Mr James L. Anaman who made the call said although Ghana ranked high within the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators, a lot still remained to be done.

A press release issued in Kumasi on Wednesday by Mr Anaman said countries like Kenya; Zambia, Tanzania and Lesotho had recorded significant progress in tax administration and hence the need for Ghana to follow suit.

The release said the PNDC Law 143 of 1986, aimed at modernising the IRS as an efficient and well structured public service to provide quality service delivery to its clientele and improve upon revenue generation.

However the Service is bogged down with the insistent of the authorities to attain its revenue targets for every fiscal year without any critical thought being given to its human and material resources. The statement said as a result, personnel trained at very high cost in both local and foreign institutions leave the Service after they have attained the competence needed.

It called for a well laid down plans to improve on the conditions of service of the personnel.