The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association wishes to inform its members, stakeholders, and the general public following our recent engagement with the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Anthony Kwesi Sarpong, regarding the newly introduced tax policy.
During the meeting, it was clarified that the tax measure has already been duly passed into law and forms part of the existing legal framework.
The Authority, however, indicated that it will monitor the implementation of the policy over a six-month period to assess its effectiveness and practical impact. We were further informed that Parliament does not hastily repeal laws, as due process must be followed.
The GRA assured the Association that the objective of the policy is not to impose additional hardship on traders, but rather to ensure that taxes legitimately due to the state are properly paid.
The structure of the system, including a 20 percent component, is aimed at promoting compliance and fairness—not conflict. In light of these assurances, the Association wishes to emphasize that there is no cause for unrest.
We have resolved to remain calm, cooperative, and law-abiding while the implementation of the policy is observed. All shops, including those at Abossey Okai, will remain open on Monday, and business activities will proceed as usual. That said, we strongly call for intensified public education on the tax system.
It has come to our attention that only a small number of traders consistently meet their tax obligations, while many others do not. This situation creates an unfair burden on compliant traders, especially when some non-compliant operators record substantial turnovers.
We believe that a significant part of the challenge stems from limited understanding of the tax framework. As such, we welcome the six-month monitoring period and hope that by the time the policy is reviewed—potentially by Parliament—it will be thoroughly evaluated to determine whether it is beneficial in its current form or requires adjustments.
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association remains committed to constructive engagement with the relevant authorities to ensure a fair, transparent, and workable tax system for all.
The Association has announced that a six-member committee has been set up to monitor the policy for the next six months. The committee is made up of three members from the Ghana Revenue Authority and three from the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to make recommendations on the effect of the tax policy.
This will lead to the recommendations being factored into the mid-year budget.
Head of Communication officer Mr Takyi Addo
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