The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has instructed various Municipal and District Assemblies to comply with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896).
According to the law, withholding agents are required to remit withheld taxes to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) within 15 days after the close of each calendar month.
However, the Auditor-General’s report has uncovered that several Assemblies, including the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Amansie West District, Bosome Freho District, Banda District, and Wenchi Municipal Assembly, among others, have not adhered to this mandate.
This issue surfaced during the second day of PAC’s hearings in Sunyani, where the Committee reviewed the Auditor-General’s Report on the Management and Utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund and other Statutory Funds for the year ending December 31, 2023.
The Committee expressed serious concern over the failure to remit taxes, emphasizing that such lapses could impact the payment of salaries and allowances. PAC urged the Assemblies to immediately cease these illegal practices.
Additionally, the Committee advised the Assemblies to set realistic targets and operate within their budgets, noting that some Assemblies’ Internally Generated Funds (IGF) are inadequate to support the projects they have undertaken.
This shortfall has resulted in delays or the abandonment of these projects, referred to as “legacy projects,” which ultimately increase costs and negatively affect local communities.
PAC further observed that some completed projects have yet to be utilized by the Assemblies.
The Committee also appealed to the Free SHS Secretariat to release funds to Senior High Schools (SHS) to ensure their smooth operation.
Several school heads expressed frustration, revealing that since February 2024, they have received only GH¢9,000 for recurrent expenses, with no additional funds provided since then.
PAC condemned this situation as unacceptable.
Source: Adomonline.com
READ ALSO: