A three-member team made up of the regional Attaché for IRS- Criminal Investigation in the Hague and representatives from the US Embassy paid a working visit to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Tuesday, 13th of February, 2024.
The team, led by the regional Attaché for IRS Criminal Investigation in the Hague, Todd Strom, met with the Executive Director, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah and some members of her management team.
The visit was meant to build mutual ties between the two institutions and to foster closer collaboration in combating tax fraud and its related matters.
In welcoming the team, the Executive Director recounted the long-standing symbiotic working relationship between EOCO and the FBI and how such collaboration has helped the Office in the fight against economic and organised crime. She expressed interest in knowing how to tap into the expertise of the United States in getting their citizenry to effortlessly and voluntarily file tax returns so that Ghana can adopt same to promote voluntary compliance.
Mr. Todd Strom also expressed his profound gratitude to the Executive Director for her warm reception. He added that their outfit was currently undertaking a tax training for Officers of EOCO, OSP, the Ghana Police and other law enforcement agencies at the RTC, Accra.
In response to a question by the COP Addo-Danquah, he stated that, they have human resource responsible for Financial Investigations on the criminal aspect of taxation. This, he added, ensures that criminals who evade taxes are published and also risk going to jail. He also stressed that the system in his country is perceived to be fair to all and so this influences people to willingly comply with the tax laws.
The Executive Director recounted some punitive measures adopted by China in dealing with tax evaders which included punishment by death. She added that as extreme as that may be, drastic measures using the criminal justice system, were necessary to ensure that people conform to filing their tax returns to prevent tax crimes. She also emphasized the need to educate the citizenry on the need to pay their taxes.
Todd Strom bemoaned similar challenges in that regard where some companies feel uncomfortable paying their taxes but through education and updates of some tax laws, the citizenry gradually embraced the tax system.
