Playwright and producer, Fiifi Coleman
Renowned playwright Fiifi Coleman has shared a distressing experience about how staff from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) threatened to shut down one of his productions over unpaid taxes.
In an interview on Hitz FM on January 20, 2025, Coleman revealed that just minutes before he was set to go on stage, he received a call from GRA officials demanding his presence to sign a letter.
“I was like, ‘I’m about to go on stage. I am backstage. Any of my staff out there is authorized to sign that letter.’ They said no, they want me. I said, ‘I am not available to come. So how do we handle this?’ They said they would call the police to stop the show because I owed them,” he said.
He criticised the GRA’s approach, noting that while he understands the importance of paying taxes, the timing and manner of their demands were problematic.
He also pointed out the disparity in tax treatment, mentioning that some individuals negotiate flat amounts with the GRA, a practice that is not widely known or taught.
“I just found out that you can actually negotiate with them and pay a flat amount, which is what some learned people do, but they didn’t teach us that way.
“Some very key people don’t pay what we pay. The GRA officials don’t even come to the events.
“It is so embarrassing when your VVIPs are coming through, and the tax agents are standing at the entrance counting them and checking tickets,” he said.
The playwright called for a more reasonable tax collection process, suggesting that taxes be assessed annually based on multiple events rather than immediately after each show.
He argued that this would prevent undue pressure and threats from the GRA, allowing artists to focus on their performances without fear of sudden disruptions.
“So let’s say you (the GRA) came to all my four shows in a year at the National Theatre. At the end of the year, you tell me how much I owe in taxes.
“That way, if I don’t have the bulk sum of money to pay after a show, GRA won’t threaten to shut down my company because of certain issues,” he said.
ID/MA
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