693 Coys Missing from GRA Tax Default List -MFTA

Joseph Bediako Raises Concerns Over Missing Companies

Joseph Bediako, the Convener for the Movement for Truth and Accountability (MFTA), has raised concerns. He claims that 693 companies are missing from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) list of tax-defaulting entities.

This discrepancy was found after an RTI request by MFTA. The GRA announced on April 8, 2021, that it had discovered 10,000 irreconcilable documents. These documents involved over 2,000 companies and fund transfers totaling about US$1.8 billion.

However, MFTA's findings suggest around 1,200 companies may be involved in tax evasion and money laundering. This number contradicts the GRA’s reported figures.

To clarify this issue, MFTA filed a request with the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) in January 2025. They sought a detailed breakdown of actions taken by the GRA to recover lost revenue.

In response, the GRA sent a letter on February 28, 2025. It provided data on 1,307 importers but did not account for the missing 693 companies. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability.

The GRA's audit showed that they assessed 548 importers. The total collection from these assessments was GH¢355,858,269.71. Additionally, penalties reached GH¢656,206,006.21. This brought total liabilities to GH¢1,012,964,266.91.

The Authority referred 537 importers to the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for further investigation. Meanwhile, they deemed 222 importers not worth auditing due to low financial activity below US$100,000.

Despite assurances from the GRA about improving revenue collection through audits and sanctions, concerns persist regarding missing companies. The Authority plans to work with the Ministry of Trade and other institutions to enhance tax compliance.

MFTA is calling for more scrutiny and immediate action to recover lost revenue. They aim to close loopholes that allow tax evasion and financial misconduct.

The Movement remains committed to advocating for greater transparency in revenue collection processes in Ghana.