Threats by the task force unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to shut down the offices of steel manufacturing company, Sentuo Steel, has compelled the company to hurriedly settle a GH¢9.2 million debt to the state.
The accumulated debt includes penalties on delayed import duties and other taxes spanning over two years.
Evasion
Frontpageghana.com gathered the company hurriedly presented a cheque in the amount owed to officers of GRA after it became clear the task force was bent on shutting it down.
Questions have been raised why it took the GRA two years to finally take that step when Sentuo Steel has consistently failed or refused to honour its obligation to the country.
Unconfirmed information, however, indicates the Chinese owner of the steel company is well connected and has allegedly paid off some highly-placed persons to pave his way through the system.
Sanctions
Meanwhile senior Principal Revenue Officer at the GRA, Magnus Agyemfra Boateng, has cautioned appropriate sanctions will be applied if it is established the cheque the company issued is not genuine considering the haste with which it was issued.
He indicated that time has come for the revenue authority to act and collect what belongs to the state from recalcitrant companies.
Hippo Transport
The Authority’s operations on Monday at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area also found haulage and general goods dealership firm, Hippo Transport culpable for accruing a debt of more than GH¢1.3 billion for more than two years.
According to Magnus Boateng, Commissioner General of the GRA and other key stakeholders in the tax office have had engagements with Hippo Transport and other companies to find a way of resolving the matter but all efforts failed.
The GRA, he said, is therefore closing it down so that the management will go their office to see the team with a favourable term or part payment.
The debt management efforts, he said, are yielding the desired result in closing its revenue gap for the year.
