Founder and leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministry, Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah is surprised at the what he says is the noise being made about churches paying taxes.
According to him, even Jesus Christ in Luke 20:25 urged the people to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
The Ghana Revenue Authority is actively working to tax activities of churches in the country.
READ: FABEWOSO: Shareholders caused collapse of UT bank – Captain Smart (VIDEO+PHOTOS)
Commissioner of the GRA, Kofi Nti has promised to pay informants 25 per cent of a penalty against churches hiding under a fellowship to make money without paying taxes to the state.
President Akufo-Addo has also supported his proposal insisting that, churches are not business ventures.
But many pastors have kicked against the proposal arguing that churches registered as non-profit organization still pay tax.
But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Rev. Owusu Bempah said it is against the doctrine for religious organisation to ignore tax.
READ: 2 cars jam rider to death
He quoted Roman’s Chapter 13 to back his assertion, adding that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority that God has not established. The authorities that exist have been established by God”.
Rev Owusu Bempah explained that the above quotation, encourages religious group to pay tax to authorities who give their full time in governing the country stressing that “the Bible continues to say that give everyone what you owe him if you owe taxes, pay taxes if revenue, then revenue, if respect then respect, if honour then honour”.
Citing himself as an example, the controversial prophet said he pays his taxes every month and has receipts to prove.
READ: Retraction and apology to John Mahama
However, Rev. Owusu Bempah said the tax should be extended to all religious bodies in the country since singling out churches will be discriminatory.
