Accra: Some key professionals in both the public and private sectors have been advised against creating environments that enable tax fraud. These professionals, according to Mr. Benaiah Nii Addo, a Tax Expert, have historically used their knowledge to circumvent the tax systems, aiding in evasion or undue avoidance, which has subsequently diminished government funds necessary for effective development.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Addo made these remarks during a two-day residential training on Tax Development, Illicit Financial Flows, and the Role of Journalists. The event was organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa with support from like-minded international organizations.

Mr. Addo identified various professionals, including accountants, lawyers, auditors, tax advisers, foreign exchange traders, dealers in metals and stones, real estate agents, and Politically Exposed Persons, among others, as those who need to adhere to tax laws more diligently. He urged these professionals to demonstrate patriotism by guiding their clients and followers to pay the correct forms of taxes to the state.

Taxes, whether direct or indirect, constitute a vital revenue source for governments to carry out development projects. Therefore, citizens' willingness to fulfill their civic duty by contributing genuinely to state coffers is essential.

Mr. Addo also highlighted pragmatic measures that the government could adopt to reduce excesses in the tax regime, emphasizing the importance of implementing appropriate digital infrastructure. Such infrastructure, he explained, would facilitate real-time monitoring and calculation of accurate figures for individuals and companies. "Monitoring devices are a sure bet in the fight against tax infringement," he added.