The presiding Reverend of the Global Evangelical Church, fire chapel in Wa, the regional capital of the Upper West Region. Rev. George Kwame Honya has disclosed that, he agrees with the government and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to tax churches that are into business.
He however noted that, the Ghana Revenue Authority should come clear on the type of business to be taxed adding that, not all businesses are taxable, he indicated his support on the need for government to widen the country’s tax net. He further stressed that, if a church wants to do a business that fetches money, it means that particular business should be separated from the church because it is an entity that makes money and should be taxed.
“If for instance, you are a church and you have decided to do business that fetches you money, that business is separate from the church and can be taxed, I personally do not have any problem with that” he stated.
Meanwhile, Rev. Honya noted that, the calls that church collections that go to pastors should be taxed is not a welcoming news. “What I am not comfortable with is the suggestion that government tax collections that go pastors, if not I support the calls that churches who are running businesses should be charged to pay tax” he indicated.
He made this known to Radio Waa’s Mawuse in an interview after government and that of the Ghana Revenue Authority have made known an intention to levy tax on churches in recent times that are operating as businesses instead of temples.
