The Abbosey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association in the Greater Accra Region has locked their shops in protest against an ongoing compliance and invigilation exercise by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The association accused the GRA of intimidation and disrespect towards its members.
The leadership of the association, addressing a press conference on Monday, said the closing down of shops was against GRA compliance and the invigilation exercise, which the association sees as intimidation and disrespect.
The Association said its members have always been law-abiding citizens of Ghana, living in peace and providing services to their fellow citizens; hence, they do not see the sound reasoning behind the decision by the GRA to send their officers to come and sit in our shops from morning till we close just in the name of raising revenue for the government.
Head of Communication Takyi Addo indicated that the GRA is now deploying various forms of intimidation, harassment, and threat-making in the name of mobilising revenue for the government.
The closure of shops is to send a signal to the government and GRA about the nuisance taxes and revenue they have imposed on traders, especially Abbosey Okai spare parts dealers.
He called on all Ghanaians to speak out against this intimidation and harassment against traders. We also demand a proper review of tax policy, a reduction of import duties, and the abolishment of certain taxes and levies on importation, he added.