You are the least preaching about paying taxes

Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Lawyer and Conveyor for #FixTheCountry

Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, lawyer and vector of the #FixTheCountry crusade, felt that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was not the ideal person to preach on paying taxes.

According to him, since President Akufo-Addo does not pay taxes, he should be the last person to call lawyers on tax compliance.

In a Facebook post, Barker-Vomawor said he agreed with the principle that lawyers pay taxes, but the call to do so should not come from the president.

“Lawyers have to pay their fair share of taxes. Without a doubt! But a president who doesn’t pay taxes is the least competent messenger for this message, ”he said.

His comment follows a challenge by President Akufo-Addo for lawyers to meet their tax obligations.

He said that “our tax-to-GDP ratio of 14.3% compares unfavorably with that of our peers around the world. The average tax-to-GDP ratio in West Africa is 18 percent, and indeed the recommended ratio for ECOWAS member states is at least 20 percent. The OECD average is 34 percent.

“It is therefore urgent to significantly improve our ability to mobilize national income to realize our development potential, create opportunities for our dynamic and dynamic young people and provide better livelihoods to our fellow citizens.”

President Akufo-Addo said this in Bolgatanga, Upper East region, when he addressed the 2021 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association.

The same sentiment was echoed by Attorney General Godfred Dame during the event.

“Many lawyers are caught up in the phenomenon of tax evasion because they unjustifiably avoid being caught in the tax net, either by underestimating their profits or by hiding their real income.

“The luxurious lifestyle of lawyers, traveling in the most luxurious vehicles and acquiring high-end properties, is barely commensurate with the amount of taxes they pay. I implore lawyers to honor their tax obligations as much as possible because failure to do so is not only criminal, but borders on a flagrant violation of professional rules, ”he declared.