The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has arrested officials of three China Mall outlets in Ashaiman, Weija and Nsawam over suspected tax evasion and the alleged use of unauthorised invoicing systems.
The arrests followed intelligence-led investigations and undercover monitoring exercises conducted by the GRA, which reportedly uncovered irregularities in the recording of sales transactions.
According to the Authority, some purchases made at the affected China Mall branches were not captured on its approved Electronic Value Added Tax (E-VAT) system, raising concerns about possible tax evasion and non-compliance with Ghana’s tax regulations.
Speaking to journalists after the operation, Head of the GRA’s Revenue Protection Unit, Wisdom Kofi Xetor, disclosed that investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged tax violations.
He explained that the operation involved mystery shopping exercises during which GRA officials visited selected China Mall outlets, purchased items and subsequently checked whether the transactions had been properly recorded on the Authority’s electronic invoicing platform.
The exercise reportedly revealed that some transactions were missing from the approved E-VAT system, while invoices issued to customers did not comply with the GRA’s authorised invoicing requirements.
GRA Targets China Mall Branches Over E-VAT Violations
Wisdom Kofi Xetor said the investigations initially focused on the Ashaiman outlet, where officials conducted purchases and examined the corresponding sales records.
After reviewing the transactions, the team discovered that some sales had not been reflected in the GRA’s approved system.
He indicated that the findings suggested that the transactions may have been diverted from the official electronic tax reporting platform.
The Revenue Protection Unit subsequently extended its operation to China Mall outlets in Weija and Nsawam, bringing the number of affected locations to three.
Xetor explained that the Authority was working to establish the extent of the suspected tax evasion and identify those responsible for the alleged violations.
GRA Warns of Up to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Tax Evasion
The GRA has indicated that it intends to pursue prosecution against individuals found to have deliberately breached the country’s tax laws.
According to Xetor, offenders could face prison sentences of up to five years if investigations establish deliberate violations that attract the stated penalty under applicable law.
The operation forms part of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s broader efforts to strengthen tax compliance, prevent revenue leakages and ensure businesses use approved electronic invoicing systems.
The Authority is also seeking to improve VAT collection and protect government revenue by ensuring that retail businesses accurately record sales transactions and issue authorised tax invoices.
The GRA has intensified its revenue protection activities as part of efforts to clamp down on tax evasion and strengthen accountability within Ghana’s business sector.
Source: newsthemegh.com