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Clergy Warns NDC Govt
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- Created on Saturday, 23 May 2009 00:00
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Clergy Warns NDC Govt
By Yaaba Yamikeh
if and only if government assures and convinces them that these monies would not be misappropriated, but properly utilized to better the lives of the people, particularly the under privileged.
The region, which is the most endowed in terms of natural resources, is ironically bereft of development in terms of good roads, affordable health care and educational facilities, as well as industries to take care of the employment needs of its teeming population.
The mining industry, which was expected to create jobs for the people, has been caught in the politics of galamsey rights and pollution, with farmers, whose means of livelihood had been curtailed by mining operations, continually at war with mining companies over compensation.
Most of the health facilities in the region as well as schools and other social infrastructure, the clergy maintained, were put in pace by the church. The leaders further assured they have no problem complying with the ruling of the National Democratic Congress' government's directive that all religious bodies should pay income taxes on their business entities like printing presses, schools, farms and bakeries, provided these taxes would be judiciously used.
This sentiment was expressed at a day's seminar on Income Tax Laws for Religious Bodies jointly organized by the Internal Revenue and VAT Services for over 150 religious leaders in the Region at the Shippers' Council Hall in Takoradi. It was under the theme: 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's'.
The Statesman gathered that the seminar was organized to explain reasons for payment of taxes to the participants, their rights and obligations as well as reasons for filing tax returns.
Seasoned Tax Inspectors took the participants through a number of topics such as 'Responsibilities of target group recapitulation and types of returns', 'Rent tax', 'withholding taxes', 'exempt organizations' and 'income of target groups'.
According to the church leaders, infrastructural facilities in the Western Region, particularly the road network, are not in very good conditions. They consequently called on government to channel some of the revenue accrued from taxation in rehabilitating and constructing roads in the region.
Some participants admitted that there was the need to pay taxes to promote development but since the IRS was not demanding it, they have also refrained from paying. This is aside of the fact that churches did not benefit from previously paid taxes.
The participants argued that they did not see the wisdom in paying taxes when roads leading to their various churches and businesses have been in deplorable conditions for years. "If government can now assure and convince us of reaping the benefits of our taxes, then we would also support the new directive wholeheartedly," they added.
The men and women of God said they were also not happy with paying taxes on appreciation gifts from members of their churches and called on government to review this section of the Tax Law.
The Regional Director of IRS, Ebenezer Osabutey, who presided over the seminar, had earlier in a brief remark said it formed part of the tax agencies' yearly programme of sensitizing and reminding Ghanaian workers in both formal and informal sectors on the need to honour their tax obligation, adding that it also formed part of measures put in place by the ruling NDC to generate revenue internally in the face of the global economic crunch, which had virtually dried up the country's external sources of loans and grants.
He, however, stressed that offertories and tithes are exempted from taxation. Mr. Osabutey cautioned the religious leaders that the IRS would not hesitate to drag recalcitrant tax defaulters to the law court.
All over Ghana, the role of the church in creating infrastructure and assisting the poor and underprivileged have been appreciated and widely acknowledged by the public and most Governments.
In attendance were Pastor Kobina Arthur, Church of Pentecost, Takoradi Central and Rev. Benjamin Biney, Rhema Church, Lagos Town, Takoradi, among several dozens of pastors.
Credit The statesmanonline
