Dr Edward Larbi-Siaw, a Tax Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) on Thursday called for stringent measures to strengthen revenue mobilization and to lessen the tax burden on tax payers.
He expressed dissatisfaction that only 1.5 million Ghanaians paid direct taxes, adding that, if the number was doubled, the Government could collect revenue that would advance socio-economic development.
Dr Larbi-Siaw was speaking at a Pre-2013 Budget Consultative Meeting, organized in Accra by the MOFEP and sponsored by the German Development Co-operation, GIZ.
The meeting, which was also under the auspices of the Ghana Revenue Authority, was organized to solicit views from the private sector regarding the state of taxation and the tax policy issues the private sector would like to see in the Government's budget statement and economic policy.
Dr Larbi-Siaw expressed hope that the new tax administration, together with the support from the security agencies, would help clamp down on activities of tax evaders and thereby strengthen revenue collection.
Mr Enock Cobbina, Chief Director of MOFEP, in a speech read on his behalf, said guidelines were being drafted to guide the management of tax exemptions regime, bonded warehousing and valuation
He called on the participants to provide feedback, which would positively influence government policies.