The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has invited the management of Jamila Home, an antique showroom in Accra, to assist in investigations into an alleged assault on one of its officers during a compliance operation at the facility. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, when GRA officials attempted to conduct a compliance check at the showroom. According to the GRA, the management of Jamila Home denied the officials entry into the premises, leading to a confrontation that resulted in the alleged assault.
The confrontation escalated, resulting in one of the officers being assaulted and the phone of another official being damaged when security personnel attempted to prevent him from recording the incident. The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Accra Area Enforcement at the GRA, Mr Joseph Adjeikwei Annan, led officers to the showroom on Thursday, October 8, 2026, to investigate the incident. He stated that the compliance exercise was initiated based on intelligence received by the authority, prompting the dispatch of officers from the GRA headquarters.
Mr Annan revealed that the officers involved had already given their statements to the authority, while the Criminal Investigations Department would take statements from the management of Jamila Home as part of efforts to establish what transpired. The GRA had also taken records from the business premises for examination and would determine whether further compliance checks or a tax audit would be necessary. He emphasized that assaulting an officer of the authority constituted a criminal offence, warning members of the public against attacking revenue officers in the course of their duties.
According to Mr Annan, section 85 of the Revenue Administration Act prescribed a maximum prison term of 20 years for certain offences involving obstruction or assault of revenue officials. He added that the police would determine the next steps after taking statements from both sides and conducting investigations. The incident has raised concerns about the relationship between businesses and revenue authorities in Ghana.
Jamila Home's Economic Advisor, Mr Hillarius McCash, provided a different account of the incident, explaining that the showroom operated differently from conventional showrooms due to the nature of its business, dealing in expensive luxury antiques. He stated that clients were normally educated at the entrance before being allowed into the showroom, while prospective buyers were required to book appointments for private viewings.
Mr McCash claimed that the officer who visited the premises on Wednesday arrived when the particular official responsible for the relevant documents was unavailable. He said the company had offered to reschedule the visit or allow the documents to be brought to the GRA office, but the request was not accepted. This led to a situation that escalated, resulting in security personnel intervening.
On tax compliance, Mr McCash stated that Jamila Home had been filing and paying its taxes in accordance with its business operations. He said the company's records were available for inspection and that its Value Added Tax payments were up to date, with the latest payment made about a month earlier. The company is prepared to work with the authority to resolve any concerns arising from the compliance exercise.
Key points
- The Ghana Revenue Authority is investigating Jamila Home management for alleged assault on an officer during a compliance operation.
- The incident occurred when GRA officials attempted to conduct a compliance check at the showroom but were denied entry.
- Jamila Home claims to have been filing and paying taxes in accordance with its business operations.
