Nana Kwame Bediako, sometimes known as Cheddar, is embroiled in a series of tax evasion controversies, with papers from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) revealing that he has faced large penalties for failing to register his income tax.
The estimated amount of taxes avoided exceeds GHC7 million, raising serious concerns about Bediako’s commitment to openness and financial accountability, especially considering his ambitions to lead the country.
The records show a recurrent practice of tax avoidance.
Between 2013 and 2016, Cheddar was fined GHC15,222, GHC14,492, GHC13,760, and GHC6,526 for failing to file personal income tax returns.
Despite appearing to comply in tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020, Cheddar’s alarming record of noncompliance resurfaced in 2021 and 2022.
According to the leaked paper, the predicted avoided taxes for these two years are startling, totaling GHC2,088,228 in 2021 and GHC5,096,536 in 2022.
Cheddar’s presidential campaign is built around the promise of bringing in a new age of growth and reform in Ghanaian politics.
However, the discovery of his repeated inability to do even the most basic civic obligation, paying taxes, puts a pall over his trustworthiness.
This is manifestly incongruous with his so-called sincere support for good change, especially given his recent political comments and declaration of desire to run for the highest position in the nation – the presidency.
This current disclosure by GRA is unquestionably a litmus test for Cheddar to come clean and handle these claims of tax fraud with honesty and responsibility.
With the general election coming up this year, people may find it difficult to reconcile Cheddar’s much publicised pledge to change with his alleged financial hypocrisy.
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