Renowned tax expert Professor Abdallah Ali-Nakyea has raised serious concerns over the growing trend of religious leaders in Ghana receiving lavish gifts without paying taxes, describing it as a loophole that fuels corruption and illicit financial flows.
Speaking at an anti-corruption forum organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Prof. Ali-Nakyea emphasized the need to scrutinize the financial practices of religious institutions. The event was themed: “Hidden Riches, Hollow Laws: Dissecting the Loopholes That Fuel Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows.”
💬 “Have You Paid Gift Tax?”
Using a thought-provoking example, Prof. Ali-Nakyea told participants:
“You see a reverend or a pastor, well-dressed in a suit and driving a sleek car. He says, ‘I prayed for a member of my church, and he thanked me with this [car].’ But I ask — Osofo, have you paid gift tax? Do you know where that money came from?”
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The professor’s remarks drew attention to Ghana’s Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896), which includes provisions for taxing gifts. However, enforcement in cases involving religious gifts remains limited or nonexistent, despite gift tax regulations being part of the law.
🕵️♂️ Oversight Gaps in Religious Institutions
Prof. Ali-Nakyea noted that religious organizations, which command massive followings in Ghana (where over 70% of the population identifies as Christian), should not be immune to financial oversight.
He warned that the lack of transparency over high-value donations opens the door for illicit financial flows, corruption, and money laundering.
“When we do harvests and people are doling out cash, let’s shine our eyes,” he advised.
“If tomorrow the giver is found to have stolen the money, what will the church say?”
📉 Billions Lost to Illicit Financial Flows
The Global Financial Integrity estimates that Africa loses between $50 billion and $80 billion annually due to illicit financial flows. Ghana is not exempt, and the problem extends beyond politicians and businesses — reaching religious institutions that often escape public scrutiny.
⚖️ A Call for Ethical Reform
In reflecting on Ghana’s long struggle with corruption, Prof. Ali-Nakyea remarked:
“We have executed corrupt people in the past — it didn’t end. I’m sure today’s corruption is even bigger than before.”
He argued that achieving true reform requires challenging sacred cows and enforcing the rule of law consistently across all sectors — including religious circles.
✅ Summary
Prof. Ali-Nakyea’s speech at the MFWA forum serves as a critical wake-up call to both policymakers and religious leaders. It urges the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and anti-corruption agencies to take a more holistic view of the informal and religious economies, ensuring that lavish, untaxed gifts are not used as conduits for financial misconduct.
