The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL), Nana Kwasi Boatey, has challenged his predecessor, David Asante Boateng, to explain how the state-owned company’s outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) liabilities of approximately GH¢22 million accumulated between 2020 and 2024.
Boatey described the unpaid tax obligations as one of the major financial challenges inherited by his administration after assuming leadership of the publishing company.
He insisted that Ghanaians deserve a detailed explanation of how the tax liabilities arose and why they were not settled during the previous management’s tenure.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on November 6, 2026, the current GPCL Managing Director disclosed that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had demanded approximately GH¢22 million in outstanding VAT payments covering the period under review.
GPCL VAT Debt Triggers Disagreement Between Current and Former MDs
The disclosure has sparked a public disagreement between Boatey and his predecessor, David Asante Boateng, over the financial management and achievements of the Ghana Publishing Company.
In a Facebook post responding to the allegations, Boateng defended his record, maintaining that he had transformed GPCL into a profitable state-owned enterprise during his time in office.
He also advised the current Managing Director to concentrate on his responsibilities rather than making public statements about the previous administration.
However, in a statement issued on Friday, November 6, 2026, Boatey rejected suggestions that he was attempting to take credit away from his predecessor.
He explained that his comments were intended to provide the public with an accurate account of the financial position of the Ghana Publishing Company and the challenges inherited by the current management.
Boatey Demands Answers Over GH¢22m GRA Tax Liability
Boatey subsequently challenged Boateng to clarify whether he disputed the existence of the approximately GH¢22 million outstanding VAT liability and explain why the company’s tax obligations reportedly remained unpaid during his administration.
He argued that addressing these concerns was necessary to promote financial transparency, accountability and responsible management of state-owned enterprises.
The GPCL boss specifically questioned whether VAT payments covering the period from 2021 to 2024 had been made under the previous management.
He maintained that the public had a right to understand the financial circumstances under which he assumed leadership of the company.
GPCL Records GH¢16.9m Profit Under Current Management
Despite highlighting the inherited tax liabilities, Boatey defended the financial performance of his administration, disclosing that the Ghana Publishing Company had recorded a profit of GH¢16.9 million under his leadership.
He insisted that the company’s current financial achievements should be assessed alongside the outstanding liabilities inherited from previous years.
According to him, it is important to distinguish between the financial performance of the current management and obligations accumulated before he assumed office.
The Managing Director maintained that transparency about inherited debts and the company’s financial position was essential to ensuring accountability and strengthening public confidence in the management of state-owned enterprises.
The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the financial accountability of public institutions, Ghana Revenue Authority tax obligations, VAT compliance and the management of government-owned companies.
Source: newsthemegh.com