Kurt Okraku questions taxes on importation of national team equipments, gate proceeds

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has asked the governement to consider granting tax exemptions on items imported for the service of the country's national teams.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, Okraku said the taxes on equipments imported for national teams have become a burden to the administration.

"Sometimes, the GFA is handicapped (and unable to pay for the cost of clearing its equipment). We dont have the finances."

The GFA President also criticised the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate of 17.5% that is charged on football tickets, questioning why other sectors of the economy like the entertainment industry, are not always required to pay similar rates for patronage of events.

"We are charged 17.5 VAT at the gate on every game that we play. And yet, other entertainment providers are charged less. This is a problem that I’ve brought to the fore of leadership, not on one occasion, not twice, maybe more," he said.

Currently, government requires majority of state agencies, including private entities conducting business on behalf of the state, to comply with its tax laws.

In the case of the Ghana Football Association, importation of items supplied by its technical partners such as PUMA all attract tax rates.These include match day jerseys, training jerseys, boots, training equipments, branding materials etc.