IEAG Slams Gov’t for Excluding Key Traders from VAT Talks

In an interview with Citi News on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit criticized both the Finance Ministry and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for failing to engage his association in discussions on proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms.

Awingobit revealed that the GRA had held a meeting on the matter but failed to invite the IEAG and other major trade groups. “They later claimed it was a group engagement and promised to reach out—but days before the budget, we’ve heard nothing,” he lamented.

With the mid-year budget review slated for Thursday, July 24, the IEAG is demanding more transparent and inclusive consultations, warning that policies developed without input from frontline trade stakeholders risk being detached from real market dynamics.

The Association has urged Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to prioritize broader stakeholder engagement before finalizing any fiscal policy shifts.