GUTA protests closing down of members’ shops

Members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) whose shops were locked up by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), have vowed to register their protest at the decision.

The Special Revenue and Mobilization Unit of the GRA on Thursday embarked on an operation to clamp down on all retail shops who have defaulted in filing their tax returns on Value Added Tax (VAT).

A total of 44 shops were locked up at the end of the exercise.

Some of the traders resisted the operation insisting that there were not given adequate information on the matter.

The Chairman of the mobile phone traders association, Osei Agyeman explained to Citi Business News, the move flouted the ongoing negotiation between the association and the GRA.

“We are in a discussion; we haven’t completed anything yet the GRA comes to do this…this is not fair,” he lamented.

Mr. Agyeman further expressed worry over what he termed as the limited time period given to members to get their returns updated with the GRA,

“In fact in the advert you were saying that those who haven’t complied should come to the GRA office and see how best you can regularize their papers and that was fair at least you should give at least one or two weeks’ notice… you just cannot come and close their shops,” he stated.

Meanwhile commenting on the matter, the President of GUTA, Barima Dr. Ofori Ameyaw hinted to Citi Business News of a meeting with members of the mobile phone dealers association on tomorrow (Friday) to present a petition to the Commissioner General of the GRA on the concerns raised over the matter.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana