The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has prevailed on religious bodies in the Ashanti Region to help in the smooth implementation of the Electronic Transaction Levy.

The Authority believes religious leaders can positively influence their members to better appreciate the importance of E-levy in national development.  The GRA therefore urged religious leaders to educate members on the need to pay taxes.

The Authority also educated the religious leaders on how to file tax returns online, via its taxpayer’s portal.

The government has challenged the Ghana Revenue Authority to collect over 80.3 billion cedis in revenue this year.

The Authority believes this target can be achieved if Ghanaians voluntarily honour their tax obligations.

Ashanti Area Director of GRA, Agnes Akosua Adu-Boateng spoke at a sensitization programme for religious leaders.

“Even though few challenges were reported, efforts are being put in place to resolve all the teething problems. As religious leaders, you also have a responsibility to educate your congregation on the need to honour tax obligation. It is important to note that e-levy will not affect; deposit, withdrawal, saving on MoMo wallet,” she said.

The GRA is also piloting the Electronic VAT System for collection of value added tax.

According to Mrs. Adu-Boateng, “the digital platform deployment by GRA is in line with the Commissioner General's transformational agenda. An E-commerce registration portal has been developed for non-residents engaged in E-commerce and digital services to charge VAT”.

Some religious leaders who participated in the workshop spoke to Luv News.

“We were not expecting such an education. It seems most people don’t understand that we’re mandated to pay our taxes, that is why they decline, especially the artisans. We will do our best to educate our members,” Rev. Stephen Obeng Asare, the District Pastor of Asante Mampong Church of Pentecost said.

Another pastor said, “We have realized that as a church, we need to also pay our taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority”.