ElectroChem Ghana Limited is facing a possible shutdown after the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) sealed the company’s administrative block over an outstanding tax liability of GH¢8.6 million.
The enforcement action was carried out by officials from the GRA’s Accra Central Office following several unsuccessful attempts to recover the unpaid taxes through demand notices and engagements with the company.
The Authority has, however, given ElectroChem Ghana Limited a seven-day window to settle the debt or agree on an acceptable payment arrangement before further action is taken.
Mr Joseph Adjeikwei Annan, Head of Enforcement at the GRA’s Accra Central Office, said the company was served with an immediate demand notice on January 7, followed by a final demand notice in February, but failed to fully address the outstanding obligation.
He explained that although the GRA initially planned to restrict access to the entire company premises, the decision was revised after discussions with management.
According to him, the Authority considered the impact a complete shutdown could have on workers, customers and the wider economy, given that ElectroChem Ghana Limited is an indigenous Ghanaian company employing a significant number of people.
Mr Annan disclosed that the company made an immediate payment of GH¢200,000 during the enforcement exercise, which the GRA accepted as an indication of its willingness to resolve the matter.
However, he stressed that a substantial portion of the tax liability remained unpaid and the company was expected to take further steps within the seven-day period.
“Beyond the seven days, if they fail to honour their obligations, then of course we will enforce,” Mr Annan warned, adding that failure to comply could lead to the sealing of the company’s main gate.
He said such action would prevent access to the premises by workers, customers and management until the outstanding tax obligations were resolved.
The GRA enforcement official noted that the action against ElectroChem Ghana Limited formed part of broader efforts by the Authority to recover unpaid taxes from businesses that had filed returns but failed to remit the required payments to the State.
He said the Authority had observed a growing trend where some companies declared tax liabilities but delayed or avoided making the corresponding payments.
Mr Annan urged businesses with outstanding tax obligations to engage the GRA and regularise their accounts before enforcement measures were initiated.
He emphasised that the Authority did not target specific companies but relied on tax records and compliance reviews to identify businesses with unpaid liabilities.
Meanwhile, operations at ElectroChem Ghana Limited’s production site continued when the Ghana News Agency visited the facility alongside GRA officials, with some workers present and production activities ongoing.
Management of ElectroChem Ghana Limited declined to comment on the matter.
