Rev. Benjamin Oppong, Head Pastor of Mount Herob Victorious Church International has warned that any attempt by the government to impose a tax on churches in the country could bring curses or destruction.
His comments is in reaction to what the Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, who is of the view that, it is about time churches were roped into the tax net as well.
Speaking on Plan B Fm late afternoon show ‘Ebaanosen’ with Ohene Kinnah, the man of God agreed that it is good to pay tax for developmental projects in the country but taxing the church is not a good idea.
“Those who pay tithe have already paid their taxes to the government so why do you want to tax it again? some churches sell items like anointing oil, water, etc in their auditorium and also do genuine businesses like school, hospitals, and many others that can be taxed” he said.
Speaking on the same program, the Executive Director for Revenue Mobilisation Africa, Geoffrey Ocansey said that taxing churches will be a step in the right direction, especially for churches that sell anointing oil, Holy water, and other commodities to their members should be taxed because it is purely business.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has opined that it is about time churches were roped into the tax net as well.
In his view, the business of winning souls is gradually becoming lucrative and tax exemptions these churches enjoy must be revoked.
Professor Prempeh stressed that only churches that can prove that monies received were invested in charitable work or used to support missions should be freed from any tax exemption policy.
In a Facebook post sighted by Plan B News he said,
“You only have to listen to some of the things these sole proprietor preachers propagate and peddle on the airwaves to know that we are long overdue for a reset in State-Church relations. The current situation where there is zero entry barrier to the establishment or operation of a “church” is certainly not sustainable.”
“Letax exemption going away with blanket tax-exemption for churches and, instead, subject churches to income tax (a tax on their net income), granting each church tax credits or exemptions only upon auditable proof that incomes have been used to support missionary or charitable work,” the CDD boss stated.
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