Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama says he will not impose taxes on churches when voted into office.
The former president made the pledge while engaging leaders of the Christian Faith in Accra today, Tuesday, 1st October, 2024. He explained that faith-based organisations do not need to be taxed.
Although he noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is piling pressure on the government to find other ways to generate revenue for the country, the church certainly is not to be taxed.
“Are we going to tax churches? Absolutely not,” he stated and explained that tithes and offerings are for the church and must not be taxed and I don’t intend to tax that,” Mr Mahama said.
He said businesses established by the church are already taxed and he believes that is enough.
“The law is that commercial activities of churches are taxed but the church itself in terms tithes, in terms of collections and all that are not supposed to be taxed. If the church sets up an industry and its working for profits that profit can be taxed,” he added.
The issue of taxing churches comes up every election year but no presidential candidate has been able to accept to accept to impose taxes on the religious bodies.
Currently, the two leaders of the main political parties, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia of the NPP and Mr Mahama of NDC have all declined calls to tax churches.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
