Founder of the Glorious Word and Power Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah is asking the Synod Clerk of South Volta Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church to explain further his appeal to the government to rope churches into the tax net.
Reverend Frank Anyidoho explained that churches are more of business organizations than religious institutions as the incomes of churches should be taxable in expanding the tax net of the country.
To him, many churches, as well as Christians, have deviated from their core functions of propagating the Gospel and following the teachings of Christ which include showing love and care for the oppressed and needy in society.
“Those who allegedly wish to get rich quick have no other alternative than to establish mushroom churches. Therefore, the only way for government to control the formation of more churches with the aim of making money, is to impose taxes on the church,” he said.
But reacting to the issue on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah averred saying that churches pay tax every month to the government, demanding further explanation on the kind of tax the EP Moderator is expecting churches to pay.
“I know churches pay tax and so I don’t know the kind of tax he wants churches to pay again. Our church pays tax every month and so I don’t know any church which is not paying tax which is why he is showing concern,” he averred.
“We pay IRS tax and SSNIT and I know that every month we pay tax and there has never been a particular month that we have not paid tax, to the extent that if we fail to pay tax on time in a month, we are charged with penalty and so I don’t know the type of tax the pastor is talking about,” he added.
He stressed that government has set aside a particular tax for the churches of which churches pay every month; reiterating that he doesn’t know exactly what Frank Anyidoho is talking about but added “Maybe government has created another tax which he wants churches to be taxed on”.
“EP church moderator should explain further on his demand for churches to pay tax. I heard my church has been mentioned as one of the small churches in the country but it is not one of them. And what do they mean by small churches? Is he referring to churches with fewer members or new church?” Rev. Owusu Bempah questioned.
He mentioned that every church has small beginning before growing to become what they are today and thus with the fewer members, probably, they are the people God has given to the church.
“I normally hear people talk of one-man church but every church started by one-man before administrators joined. Anyani Boadum established his church alone, Archbishop Duncan Williams, Dr. Mensa Otabil singularly established their churches and so we can say that every church was established by one-man. We have Christian Council, Pentecostal Council and we also have Prophetic Council and Apostolic Council,” he posited.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com
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When Dr. Nkrumah was asked about the corruption in his government he said that he believed that the only way to fight corruption is to create a strong public opinion against it. To this end, Akufo-Addo must ensure that kindergarten and primary school children across the country are taught anti-corruption poems and songs. An anti-corruption question must always appear in the BECE.
I agree 100%, yes churches are more than business entities and they have to pay tax. Churches have been cheating the government for far too long. In Ghana today, the pastors are riding in the most expensive cars and living in one of the most expensive houses. They have to pay tax and I agree to that.
Rev. Anyidoho is right, Churches should start paying taxes! Most churches in Ghana are now multi-million dollar corporations. They make huge profits by stealing from the very poor in our society. Contrary to the teachings of Christ, pastors are now selling all kinds of merchandise in churches- oil, pepper, Bentoa, water etc. It should be mandatory for these churches to file annual income taxes so the state can tax them appropriately.
This is why I know this man is working for the devil. Even Jesus Christ who he claimed to be working, but I doubt, JESUS HIMSELF did not question taxation when he was asked to pay tax. He humbly paid that because he knew the significance of taxes to the nation. I can't understand why anytime churches are asked to pay tax, these same persons who call themselves Christians kick against the very thing Jesus gladly embraced and paid immediately. What is wrong with some of our so called revs. This man also claims he is spiritual, I want to ask, in this world who is not spiritual. All of us were created by God who is the source of all spirits, so anytime anyone keeps boasting he is spiritual he is indirectly telling you he is a wizard representing the devil.
Do you people see the Picture very clearly, i walk around the Street and Realize people are so Dumb and clueless about REAL and FAKE. Instead of the Man of God to come out saying , i agree but most Politicians are Corrupt so we need to establish a System so the Taxes collected are given back to the Needy societies, especially the Widows, Orphanages, Mental institutions. There are Poor people within Churches yet still, a Pastors main Target is to acquire Trasacco ville, range rover,expensive Suit , and some ***barred word*** long mouth siano shoes Lol , had to chip that in though . I'm not Judging but many will be Surprised on Judgement Day , its all about PURE HEART and not Pleasing Society .
Owusu Bempah should stop putting out his ignorance shamelessly. The call for churches to pay tax is a view being expressed by a member of the clergy and if that view should be considered and accepted, the law can be amended in such a way to ensure that Churches making profit pay tax. The payment of SSNIT is not tax and someone must educate Owusu Bempah and the payment of Income tax is not a payment of tax by his Church. So he should desist from engaging in falsehood that his church pays tax but rather the workers in his church pay tax.If his church pays tax then it should be corporate tax not income tax which is not even the case. The view expressed by the EP Church Pastor didn't seem to suggest that Churches should be discriminated against in the payment of taxes where only so called one man churches should pay tax. The thrust of his main argument is that, Churches have drifted from their main core function and are rather engaging in activities which are business in nature.These activities can be taxed.
He is talking about corporate tax but not PAYE and SSNIT
Corporate tax is paid out profit. Are churches profit oriented establishment?
what the pastor is saying is the tax paid by people the church has employed but the church. The church should be taxed to pay corporate tax every quarter.
“We pay IRS tax and SSNIT and I know that every month we pay tax and there has never been a particular month that we have not paid tax, to the extent that if we fail to pay tax on time in a month, we are charged with penalty and so I don’t know the type of tax the pastor is talking about,” he added. I think the Founder of the Glorious Word and Power Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah is talking about PAYE Tax and Social Security Contribution. It is by law(mandatory) to pay PAYE and SSNIT every month. The monthly PAYE tax and SSNIT are not corporate taxes. They are employees income tax and employees pension respectively. There is corporate tax for every quarter or yearly. Thanks.