GIZ BUILDS SMES’ FINANCIAL CAPACITY IN TAKORADI, WESTERN REGION

The Embassy of Ghana wishes to inform the public that GIZ Ghana through its Reform and Investment Partnership Project, the Migration and Employment Promotion component and Financial System Development component under the Programme for Sustainable Economic Development, and Special Initiative for training and job creation (SI jobs) program, held a two-day forum from 30th June to 1st July, 2021 in Takoradi, Western Region.

The forum dubbed “Access to Finance” was targeted at Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the region to provide insights on how to effectively access financial support for the growth of their enterprises as well as bridge the gap in understanding between financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies, and business owners.

The “Access to Finance” forum provided business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to discuss and find solutions to the challenges of accessing finances for their businesses.

Various experts in the field of entrepreneurship and business financing including the Head – CDC Consult, Ernest Senyo Dzandu, Senior Project Manager – Piron Global Development, Ebenezer Asumang, and Director of Projects – Social Entrepreneurship Hub, James Arthur-Amoah expounded on various pertinent issues touching on business development and digitalization as well as fund-raising for SMEs.

This years’ forum in Takoradi included a pitching competition, which saw several SMEs pitch their businesses for the chance to win various prizes like laptops and mobile phones, contributing towards improving the digitalisation of their businesses.

Various financial institutions were present including Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, Allianz insurance and Glico insurance. Participants of the forum also had the opportunity to register for a MoMo merchant sim with MTN, allowing them to transact business using mobile money.

An entrepreneur, Isaac, reiterated the impact of the event, “I am particularly grateful for the rich feedback and encouragement given by the judges during my pitch. I commend GIZ and Duapa Werkspace (local innovation hub) for the immense work they are putting into transforming local businesses to become competent players both locally and on the global front”.

Since 2020, the forum organised in the Ashanti and Bono regions has reached over 200 business owners with pertinent information on accessing finance for their businesses and improved their ability to generate capital through various funding strategies.

                                                                                                                                                                 EMBASSY OF GHANA
                                                                                                                                                                              BERLIN

09^th July, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROCEDURES ON OBTAINING
TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (TIN) ABROAD

Following representations by some Ghanaian citizens abroad on the difficulty in acquiring their tax identification numbers (hereinafter named TIN), the Ministry wishes to furnish below the necessary steps
required for access to a TIN under the taxpayers identification numbering system Act 2002, (ACT632):

(a) Applicants should visit the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) website at gra.gov.gh;

(b) Download the TIN form to complete and sign it;

(c) Scan the completed form together with a clear copy of one of the following ID cards;

• A valid passport
• Driver´s license
• Ghana voter card
• National identification card

(d) Forward the completed TIN form and scanned ID card to the GRA´s contact person:

Nana Mensah Otoo (Esq.)
(Principal Legal Officer in Charge of
Treaties and International Agreements)
Via email address: nana.otoo@gra.gov.gh

(e) Upon receipt of the completed documents, the GRA will revert with the relevant TIN number to the applicant.

2. For companies, applicants will need documents such as:
* Certificate of incorporation
* Commencement of Business certificate
* Partnership certificate
* External company letter

3. Acquisition of a Tin is free of charge. It is a prerequisite for the discharge of one´s tax obligations, particularly for every person liable to pay tax, or required to withhold tax at source (see Section 4 of the TIN system Act 2002, (Act 632).

4. For the avoidance of doubt, under section 8 of Act 632, without a TIN one shall not be permitted to do the following:

“(i) To clear any goods in commercial quantities from any ports or factory;

(ii) To register any title to land, interest in Land or any document affecting land;

(iii) To obtain any tax clearance certificate from the Internal Revenue Service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service or the Value Added Tax Service;

(iv) To obtain a certificate to commence business or a business permit issued by the Registrar-General or a District Assembly;

(v) To receive payment from the Controller and Accountant-General or a District Assembly in respect of a contract for the supply of any goods or provision of services unless that person quotes the TIN issued in respect of that person under the system.”

5. Besides, a TIN is required for the registration of vehicles and acquisition of passports and driver´s license.

                                                                                                                                                                 EMBASSY OF GHANA
                                                                                                                                                                              BERLIN

28^th April, 2021