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GRA collects GH¢51.5bn, pledges to seal all loopholes

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GRA, 2022 revenue, Newscenta, media engagement, online auction, E-VAT,
GRA meets media. Photo: GRA

Total tax revenue collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the first nine months of 2022 amounted to GH¢51.5 billion (GH¢51,580.17 million).

0.9% negative deviation

The Authority, therefore, fell short of its target for the period by GH¢466.61 million representing negative deviation of 0.9%.

Nominal growth rate of 29%
The revenue performance represents nominal growth rate of 29% over the same period compared to last year’s collection of 26%.

Domestic revenue grew nominally by 28.6%   while Customs revenue grew nominally by 29.8%

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Strategies to seal loopholes

Addressing the media in Accra, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah Commissioner-General said GRA is therefore adopting strategies to ensure that all loopholes are sealed with rigorous enforcement and compliance measures.

Cracking the whip

“We are leaving no stone unturned to achieve our revenue target for 2022. GRA is cracking the whip hard on all defaulting businesses this year,” he said.

Tax Courts

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According to him, businesses have been dragged are before the Tax Courts on charges of failure to pay tax contrary to Section 80 of the Revenue Administration Act 2016 (Act 915) and failure to issue Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices on purchase of goods and services.

GRA Taxpayers portal
He explained that GRA’s taxpayers portal, an online self-service system allows taxpayers to file returns, initiate payments and access other tax related services such as Tax Clearnce Certificates (TCCS), apply for tax reliefs, withholding tax exemptions, refunds, update of taxpayer information can be accessed on any browser.

Electronic VAT invoicing

Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah noted that an Electronic VAT invoicing is being introduced to replace the current way of issuing invoices under VAT is fraught with abuses such as invoice cloning, carding and non-issuance of invoices amongst others with negative effects on domestic tax performance.

According to him, Electronic VAT has therefore been introduced to eliminate these irregularities identified and implementation will be done in phases starting October 1, 2022 and it will help GRA to monitor the issuance of invoices by taxpayers by certifying all invoices issued for the purpose of accounting and filing of VAT returns.

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Excise Tax Stamp

The GRA Commissioner-General announced that a new Excise Tax Stamp Authenticator developed for scanning stamps on excisable products to ascertain whether the stamps are genuine or not will soon be launched.

Electronic Transactions Levy

He disclosed that the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) which commenced in May 2022 has raked in GH¢328.80 million as at September 2022.

“It is worth mentioning that, month-on-month basis we continue to see a 20% improvement in the collection of the levy

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“It is therefore our expectation that this will continue and improve domestic revenue generation to support government expenditure,” he stated.

Electronic Auction

Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah disclosed that the Authority is piloting an e-auction module on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) saying “E-auction has been developed and gone through some testing and now being uploaded with overstayed goods for further processing.

Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate

He said GRA has automated the process of obtaining Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs). Taxpayers can now apply for TCCs electronically via the Taxpayers’ portal.

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He said a USSD short code to be made public as soon as possible that will allow every Ghanaian to check on their tax compliance status has been acquired.

Informant awards

He stated that the Authority has instituted an Informant Award Scheme as a means of awarding individuals, entities or organizations who offer confidential information to the GRA leading to the recovery of tax.

He assured that the information one provides will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and where the information leads to the recovery of taxes, the informant will receive cash amounts in line with GRA’s Informant Policy.

He emphasized that the digitalization agenda remains on course with initiatives such as the Cashless mode of payment of taxes and levies, new modules in the ICUMS as well as the introduction of customer-focused initiatives to make tax payment easier and seamless.

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Others Commissioners took turns to give highlights on the various initiatives under their respective Divisions.

 

Finance

Ofori-Atta appeals to Parliament to approve revenue measures

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Ofori-Atta, Newscenta, revenue measures, debt restructuring, parliament,

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has informed parliament of his intention to present necessary fiscal adjustments to the house in august after the debt operation is completed.

Outstanding revenue mobilisation bills

Already, he said the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, Excise Duty & Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bills as well as the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, are outstanding in Parliament.

According to him, the consideration and approval of fiscal measures by Parliament are critical for recovery from the current economic crisis.

Facilitating IMF Board approval

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The Minister therefore entreated Parliament to prioritise the approval of the outstanding revenue mobilisation bills to facilitate the Board Approval for International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme staff level agreement by the end of March, 2023.

“We are still counting on you for the passage of all the outstanding revenue Bills which are necessary for effective Budget Implementation as well as boosting our efforts at increasing our Tax-to-GDP from less than 13% to the sub-Saharan average of 18,” he stated.

Expected impact of IMF Board approval

He is confident IMF Board approval will restore macro-economic stability, ensure debt sustainability as well as provide critical social protection for the benefit of Ghanaians.

Factors that impacted economy negatively

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COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war, soaring energy and food prices, higher interest rates, a strong dollar and a global slowdown negatively affected the economy.

Ghana seeking $3 billion loan

Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about $3 billion.

But, the IMF has made it clear that the Board approval of the deal is contingent on a successful debt exchange programme.

Broader govt response strategy

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Addressing Parliament on the ongoing debt restructuring efforts, Ofori-Atta explained that debt operations are a composite part of a broader government response strategy for addressing the current challenges.

While being optimistic about IMF programme to boost confidence in the economy, he emphasized that complementing it with enhanced domestic mobilisation efforts is critical.

4 out of 5 agreed Prior Actions in the Staff Level Agreement

The Finance Minister averred that the passage of the Bills will enable government to complete four out of five agreed Prior Actions in the Staff Level Agreement.

Agreed Prior Actions already implemented

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He noted that tariff adjustment by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Publication of the Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 Spending, and Onboarding of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Road Fund on the Ghana integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS) have all been completed.

International and domestic bond markets are shut

Ofori-Atta reminded the legislators that the international and domestic bond markets are shut for the financing of government’s programmes, forcing government to rely on the Treasury Bills and concessional loans as the primary sources of financing for the 2023 fiscal year.

Therefore, he called on Parliament to support the government’s financing requests to ensure a smooth recovery from the economic challenges.

He thanked everyone who tendered and supported the Domestic Debt Exchange programme saying “It is a truly remarkable act of sacrifice in our nation’s history. We thank those who heeded our clarion call and took the selfless, patriotic decision to participate. Your names and deeds will never be forgotten. Your timely support is deeply appreciated,”.

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He is confident that the programme government has set out for this year, supported by Parliament, will get Ghana out of the economic crisis that has hit the economy since Covid-19.

Inflation interest and exchange rates to stabilise

He hopes for stability in the exchange rates, inflation and interest rates, bringing businesses and families some respite.

Suspension of payments of interest on foreign debt

Government also announced a suspension of all debt service payments for certain categories of external debt, pending an orderly restructuring.

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International bondholders

Ofori-Atta revealed that Ghana initiated discussions with representatives of international bondholders and their Advisors.

According to him, substantive discussions are due to start with them in the weeks to come.

G-20 Debt Treatment initiative

Ghana officially asked its bilateral creditors for a Debt Treatment initiative under the G-20 Common framework.

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Negotiations with commercial creditors underway

The Finance minister said the process of negotiations have started in good faith with commercial creditors.

Ofori-Atta stated that two preliminary discussions and exchange of information have started on a good footing with representative committees and advisors.

Creditor Committee to assess Ghana’s request

According to him, the members have indicated their commitment to establish a Creditor Committee to assess Ghana’s request for debt treatment under the Common Framework by end February, 2023.

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Finance

IMF assigns resident financial supervision adviser to BoG

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Financial adviser, BoG, Newscenta, banking sector supervision, IMF,

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assigned a Resident financial sector supervision adviser to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to provide technical assistance and help build the capacity of the banking supervision function.

The appointment was at the request of Bank of Ghana with full funding from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Mr. Leonard Chumo, the Resident Adviser, started his assignment at the Bank of Ghana on February 6, 2023, and was expected to stay for three years.

A statement issued by BoG in Accra said the Adviser’s placement was a continuation of cooperation in this area between the Bank, the IMF and SECO, that started as early as in 2015 and had already seen the assignment of a previous Adviser until 2018.

It said achievements from the past collaborative efforts include the passage of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930), the development and issuance of the Corporate Governance Directive 2018, and the Capital Requirement Directive 2018.

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Mr Chumo, brings first-hand knowledge of supervisory work from leading central banks as well as previous technical assistance experience in the Western Africa region.

The statement said among others, he would support the implementation of Pillar two and three of the Basel II/ III capital frameworks, as well as strengthen the Risk-Based Supervisory framework at the Bank of Ghana.

The Bank commended the management of SECO for the continued funding of Long-Term Technical Experts from the IMF to the Bank.

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Finance

Govt pledges to pay coupons, principals on all maturing bonds  

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Coupons, Newscenta, maturing principals, bondholders, payment,

Government has assured all bondholders, including those who self-exempted from the voluntary Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) that it will honour all coupon payments and maturing principals when due.

Payment of coupons and principal for bonds that matured since   February 6 to date (herein referred to as ‘Due Bonds’ remain outstanding.

Bondholders want government to make payments not later than Friday, February 17, 2023.

A statement issued by the Finance Ministry indicates that more than 80% bondholders participated in its $137 billion DDEP.

“The DDEP closed on Friday February 10, 2023, with over 80% participation of eligible bonds,” it said.

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The Finance Ministry pledged to honour all coupon payments and maturing principals in addition to commitments to further streamline Government’s expenditures.

“We would like to stress that, all Individual bondholders, especially our Senior Citizens, should rest assured that their coupon payments and maturing principals, like all Government bonds, will be honoured in line with Government’s Fiscal commitments.

“The Government would like to reassure all individual bondholders who elected not to participate that your coupon payments and maturing principals, like all Government bonds, will be honoured in line with Government fiscal commitments,” it added.

Government reiterated that the DDEP had been executed to help protect the economy and enhance Ghana’s capacity to service its public debts effectively, as its debt had become unsustainable.

The alternative for not executing the DDEP would have brought grave disorder in the servicing of our national debt and exacerbated the current economic crisis.

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It expressed gratitude to bondholders for the overwhelming participation, adding that their support and contributions had gotten Ghana much closer to securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

There are fears that those who opt against signing up are not guaranteed market liquidity for the old bonds, because they are likely to become less tradeable on the secondary market compared with the new bonds.

On the other hand, individuals who sign up for the new bonds will have more certainty even in a changing economic landscape.

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