Owners of at least 150 shops in parts of Kumasi in the Ashanti region have been left stranded after their facilities were locked up by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over unpaid taxes.

The Ashanti New Town Taxpayer Service Centre, as part of ongoing tax compliance measures, placed shops of the tax defaulters under new locks to have them honour their tax obligations.

The GRA explains that the affected owners failed to comply with their civic responsibility despite several notices and reminders to pay their outstanding amounts.

Shop owners at the Airport Roundabout area, Asafo, and Amakom have since been left stranded after discovering additional padlocks on their facilities along with a GRA notice embossed on their gates.

The GRA in Ashanti is concerned with the reluctance of some individuals and businesses in the informal sector to honour payment of their taxes.

According to the tax collector, the defaulters cited low sales and other challenges as reasons for not settling their debts.

But some of the affected shop owners claim not to have been informed of the operation.

Chief Revenue Officer and Compliance Unit Head at the Ashanti New Town Taxpayer Service Centre, Henry Prince Gyan, insists a prior notice was sent to the shop owners before carrying out the exercise.

He confirmed that the office has mobilised at least GH₵ 200,000 after some affected shop owners settled their arrears to have their shops reopened.

“At times, we realise they internationally do not want to pay, so at times, we apply a little bit of force to put them in line. We sent them invitation letters earlier, before we locked up. Some have received the invitation letters, but they refuse to come. So, to go out and inform them about the operation, we will not,” he revealed.