The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched an investigation into an alleged assault on its officers at Jamila Decor, a luxury furniture and interior decoration business in West Legon, Accra, following a confrontation during an intelligence-led tax compliance inspection.
The incident prompted a follow-up enforcement operation on Thursday, October 8, 2026, involving GRA compliance officers, police personnel and the media at the company’s premises at 13 Westland Boulevard, near GIMPA.
According to the GRA team leader, the operation followed reports that senior tax officers dispatched from the Authority’s headquarters on Wednesday, October 7, were denied entry and allegedly assaulted while attempting to conduct compliance checks.
The official disclosed that one officer’s mobile phone was taken during the confrontation, while an official identification card was reportedly damaged.
“Some of our officers, senior officers, were sent here to carry out an intelligence-led compliance check. And the information we got at the office was that they were refused entry and were assaulted,” he explained.
The team leader said the incident was subsequently reported to GRA headquarters, prompting the deployment of another team accompanied by police officers assigned to the Authority.
GRA warns businesses against obstructing tax officers
The GRA official issued a stern warning to businesses against obstructing or attacking revenue officers performing their statutory duties.
He stressed that officers undertaking compliance inspections act under the authority of the Commissioner-General and must be allowed to discharge their responsibilities without intimidation.
“When we go out there, you should know we go on the strength of the Commissioner-General. So when you attack or assault any of our officers, you should know that you are attacking the Commissioner-General,” he warned.
“We’ll never sit aloof and allow this to happen,” he added, insisting that the Authority would pursue appropriate legal action against individuals found to have assaulted its personnel.
The official cited Section 85 of the Revenue Administration Act, claiming that offences involving obstruction or attacks on revenue officers could attract severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to 20 years.
He explained that the officers involved had already submitted statements and that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) would invite a representative of the company to provide an account of the incident.
The police would subsequently determine the appropriate course of action based on their investigations.
Company denies physical assault, apologises over confrontation
However, Hillarius McCash, who identified himself as the company’s economic adviser, disputed claims that GRA officers were physically assaulted.
He attributed Wednesday’s confrontation to a misunderstanding over the company’s strict security and visitor-access procedures.
According to him, Jamila Decor deals in expensive antique furniture and luxury interior furnishings and operates a controlled-entry system under which customers are generally expected to arrange appointments before accessing the showroom.
He explained that when the GRA officers arrived, the person responsible for the company’s tax documentation was unavailable.
Security personnel subsequently contacted the official, who requested that the officers either wait, return the following day or arrange to receive the relevant documents at GRA’s office.
Mr McCash alleged that the officers proceeded into the premises despite the request, leading to a confrontation with security personnel.
He nevertheless denied that any officer was beaten.
“I can assure you there wasn’t any exchange of blows or beating or anything,” he stated.
He acknowledged that an altercation occurred after one of the officers attempted to record video inside the showroom, contrary to the company’s internal policy.
According to him, an attempt to take the officer’s phone resulted in damage to the device.
Mr McCash apologised for the incident, describing it as an unfortunate misunderstanding.
“We sincerely apologise to GRA, but in particular the officers that have come yesterday and today,” he said.
He maintained that the company had no intention of obstructing the Authority and was prepared to cooperate fully with the investigation.
GRA retrieves company records for examination
Following Thursday’s intervention, GRA officers gained access to the premises and obtained business records for examination at the Authority’s headquarters.
The team leader explained that the original inspection was triggered by intelligence received at the head office concerning the company’s tax compliance.
However, he declined to establish whether Jamila Decor had breached any tax obligations, stressing that the records would first have to be examined.
“We have picked their records and we are taking them to the office,” he said, adding that the findings would determine whether additional tax assessments or a comprehensive audit would be necessary.
Mr McCash insisted that the company had a tax history and was willing to provide the information required by GRA.
He also explained that the luxury antique furniture business operates differently from conventional retail outlets, with sales sometimes occurring several weeks or months apart.
Despite the confrontation, he said the company remained committed to maintaining a cooperative relationship with the tax authorities.
The GRA official similarly emphasised that the Authority’s objective was not to frustrate businesses but to promote voluntary compliance and ensure that taxpayers meet their obligations.
He maintained, however, that cooperation with businesses would not prevent the Authority from enforcing the law when its officers are allegedly obstructed or attacked.
The case now has two separate dimensions: a police investigation into the alleged assault and a GRA examination of the company’s tax records to establish whether any compliance violations occurred.
No finding of tax evasion or criminal wrongdoing against Jamila Decor or its employees had been established at the time of the enforcement visit.
