The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has called on Ghanaians, particularly patrons of the 2025 Oguaa Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast, to insist on Value Added Tax (VAT) receipts for all their transactions at hotels, restaurants, and other service points.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, said tax compliance remains a crucial driver of national development and urged citizens to make tax payment a shared responsibility.
Speaking to Joy Business on the sidelines of the festival, themed “Innovate to elevate: Harnessing the creative economy for sustainable growth,” Mr. Sarpong explained that ensuring VAT invoices are issued during transactions is one of the simplest ways citizens can contribute to revenue mobilisation.
“As we enjoy and make merry, we should remember that the nation is developed by taxes that we collect. We encourage all those in Cape Coast to do one thing for us—as they go to the restaurants and hotels, and when they’re leaving, they should make sure the bill they’re given has a VAT invoice,” he stressed.
As part of its participation in the celebrations, the GRA donated GH¢100,000 to the Central Regional NADMO and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly to support victims of the recent floods, which destroyed buildings and displaced residents.
The Commissioner-General also used the occasion to highlight the Authority’s modified taxation programme designed to bring small businesses outside the tax bracket into compliance. He embarked on a series of local radio campaigns to further educate traders, festival patrons, and residents about the initiative.
Mr. Sarpong emphasized that festivals, which draw huge crowds, present an opportunity not only for cultural celebration but also for strengthening taxpayer awareness and compliance.
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