The Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA) is calling on the government of Ghana to reduce high tariffs on import goods in the midst of pandemic Covid-19.

According to the union, the high taxes are severely affecting the survival of businesses in the country.

The Ashanti Regional PRO of GUTA, Mr Albert Mensah Offei says, traders are unable to import goods and services into the country due to the huge charges on imported goods.

He said, importers of containers some years back were paying 3,500 USD per a container but now, they paying not less than 12,000 USD which is too expensive and as a result many businesses are collapsing so there is the need for a drastic reduction.

“We’re pleading on government to reduce the price on import goods in order to keep traders in business.” He stated.

Meanwhile, the GUTA PRO has described government quest to post audit documents of traders regarding the payment of taxes as unfortunate, the move which GUTA will not agree for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to embark on.

How can GRA wake up and tell us we’re coming to do post auditing? That is very unfortunate and we do not agree with government.”

He says if the government insist on the post auditing exercise, the GRA should start with the members of parliament who spent thousands of Ghana Cedis on party delegates in the 2020 general elections.
In spite of that, GUTA will not allow the GRA to move on with the post auditing exercise.

By: Joseph Marfo