Butchers deny chasing away tax collectors with knives

Butchers operating at the Kumasi Abattoir on Tuesday denied they had been chasing out revenue collectors with knives when they come to them to demand payment of their taxes.

Alhaji Bawa Tanko, the Chief Butcher, said they found the allegation completely shocking and unbelievable.

“We enjoy good working relationship with the staff of the Abattoir Company Limited and there has never been any occasion we have refused to honour our tax obligations,” he told the GNA in an interview.

Alhaji Tanko said the butchers were hurt by the claims and appealed for calm among the butchers as the leadership sought clarification from the Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr Kwesi ahwoi, who is reported to have made the claim.

Mr Joe Owusu-Boadi, Managing Director of the Abattoir, corroborated the story of the butchers and provided detailed statistics on monies paid to the Veterinary Service Department over the last three years.

In year 2008, total payments amounted to GH¢12,977.91, that of 2009, stood at GH¢42,204.35 with the figure for 2010 was GH¢48,206.98.

For the first seven months of this year, they had paid GH¢27,764.67.

Mr Owusu-Boadi urged the butchers to continue to sustain the high level of cooperation and understanding existing between them and the company for efficient service delivery.

Source: GNA