Ten state institutions, including the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), owe the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over GH¢1 billion in unpaid taxes.

This came up when GRA officials appeared before the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, July 29.

While some of these entities have indicated their intention to settle their debts, concerns were raised by the committee about others, such as the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which are considered less viable.

A GRA representative noted that some state agencies are facing cash flow challenges, which could be contributing to their inability to fulfil their tax obligations.

 “GACL and Graphic Corporation currently are having cash flow challenges. They’ve indicated to us that we need to give them a moratorium to be able to come back to us. So, for them, they are prepared to pay once their cash flow improves.”

The Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Abena Osei Asare, suggested that for companies unlikely to pay their taxes, the option of writing off the debts should be considered.

 “Mr Chairman, we have done this before. We brought it to parliament; we went through a process [and] brought some to parliament for parliament to write it off.

“If it becomes necessary after all avenues to collect these monies have failed, we will go through that process and then come to Parliament for permission to do that,” she said.