The Presiding Bishop of the International Godsway Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, has sued the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for taking over his Fidelity Bank account over non-payment of taxes.
The suit follows a Garnishment Notice issued by the GRA on 27th June 2019 by the Commissioner to Fidelity Bank seeking to possess the account of Bishop Obinim with the bank.
The notice came after a letter written by the Authority on December 18, 2018, to Bishop Obinim demanding payment of tax liability of the sum of GHc 719,890.00.
The GRA believes the amount represents taxes for the period of 2014 to 2018 on a block of 21 units of shops situated at Tema owned by Bishop Daniel Obinim.
The revenue authority is also seeking GHc690,900.00 which is the Total Value Added Tax (VAT) charged for the period 1st January 2016 to 31st July 2018 from the business operations of the Abroso Guest House Limited, a separate Limited Liability corporate entity which is alleged to be under the management of Bishop Obinim.
But in the suit filed by lawyers for Bishop Obinim, the man of God says he does not owe the Revenue Authority any money as he has met all his tax obligations.
He maintained in the suit that GRA was aware “Abroso Guest House Limited was a separate corporate entity duly registered under the laws of Ghana and is limited by shares of which [Obinim] served as one of the three directors of the company and has no direct or indirect control in the management of the said company.”
He is therefore in his suit asking the court for an order to set aside or strike out the Garnishment Notice issued to Fidelity Bank.
Furthermore, Bishop Obinim is praying for “an order for a perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant [Fidelity Bank] from placing a lien on the Plaintiff’s bank accounts and from paying of any funds held in the Plaintiff’s bank accounts and fixed deposits to the 1st Defendant in respect of the Garnishment Notice issued.”
