Yesterday, commercial businesses came to a standstill in Freetown as shopkeepers and businesses closed their stores to protest against the Goods and Services Tax Electronic Cash Register ( ECR )imposed by the SLPP Government.
The shop and business owners accused the government of creating a difficult business atmosphere in the country with the imposition of the tax by the National Revenue Authority ( NRA ) which has affected their profits and has the capacity to destroy their enterprises.
A report by Freetown journalist, Amadu Lamrana Bah, confirmed that traders in Freetown closed down their shops in protest against the installation of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) Goods and Services Tax Electronic Cash Register (ECR)
According to Bah : ” This came after several disagreements between some business owners and the NRA on the installation of the ECR in Freetown.Last week, the NRA Commissioner General, Dr. Samuel Jibao said the Goods and Services Tax is not charged on rice, flour, baby food, pharmaceuticals, and some other commodities. He said the Electronic Cash Register is not for every business as being claimed.”
Some Sierra Leoneans interviewed by COCORIOKO blamed the SLPP Government for their junta – styled governance habit of imposing measures without first getting stakeholders and those concerned involved.
According to Emmanuel Boima, however :
” I know why this GST is causing issues with business people
The NRA need to outsource the sensitization to better institutions that can educate the businessmen. Honestly the business people have no reason to close shops
The tax is being borne by tax payers
I know of few Indian shops that are constantly operating with the GST system
They’re very good in financial planning and are very discipline
Our business people aren’t discipline and lack the basic to handle the ECR system. ”
But Thomas King looked on both sides. ” I listened to both sides today. And my take out is that lowering the threshold to 100m widened the tax bracket. But the problem those people who are putting together to bring in one container is that they cannot claim their input GST. Remember that output less input is what you have to pay to NRA. Now if you are paying output and can not claim your input, then that does not make business sense . We need to first understand the problem to get a solution. I know the big players have no reason to lock their shops but maybe they are part of an association or are just taking advantage. My two cent.”
Yesterday , Abacha Street and the business section of the city looked like a ghost town with padlocks firmly fastened on doors of shops and businesses.
