GNBCC Hosts 2025 Business Breakfast Meeting on Tax Dispute Resolution and Litigation

On Thursday, 4th December 2025, the Ghana Netherlands Business & Culture Council (GNBCC), together with The Pelican Hotel, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, EuroCham Ghana, and the Spain–Ghana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC), hosted the annual Business Breakfast Meeting & Business Exhibition on the theme “Tax Dispute Resolution and Tax Litigation.”
The well-attended session brought together CEOs, CFOs, legal advisors, and compliance leaders for a highly practical discussion on preventing tax disputes and navigating Ghana’s evolving regulatory landscape.

Opening Remarks

GNBCC General Manager Ms. Hilde Famaey opened the morning with a strong message on the importance of proactive tax compliance, especially as Ghana intensifies revenue mobilisation and implements the 2026 Budget.

Representing the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dr. Rens Twijnstra, Head of Economic Affairs, delivered remarks on behalf of H.E. The Ambassador of The Netherlands Jeroen Verheul. He reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to supporting a transparent, predictable regulatory environment that strengthens Dutch–Ghanaian business collaboration.

Tax Dispute Avoidance: Roadmap for Businesses

Mr. Abeku Gyan-Quansah, Partner & Director at PwC Ghana, outlined why companies should avoid tax disputes at all costs. He highlighted that disputes:

• Consume time and financial resources
• Take months or years to resolve
• Disrupt business operations
• Carry significant uncertainty when escalated to litigation

He noted that most disputes stem from documentation gaps, VAT errors, withholding tax issues, transfer pricing exposures, and late engagement with GRA officials.

His central message was clear:
“Avoid the dispute before it starts.”
Strong internal systems, audit-ready documentation, early engagement with GRA, and the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) significantly reduce risk.

Understanding Tax Litigation: Processes & Pitfalls

Dr. Kweku Ainuson, Partner at AB Lexmall & Associates, took participants through the full lifecycle of tax litigation, from first audit query to potential Supreme Court appeal.

He explained how litigation often arises from weak controls, misinterpretation of tax laws, insufficient evidence, and disagreements during audits. His presentation demonstrated how technical, lengthy, and resource-intensive litigation can be.

Companies were strongly advised to litigate only as a last resort because:

• The burden of proof lies on the taxpayer
• Costs are high and outcomes unpredictable
• Most disputes could be prevented with strong internal systems

His conclusion summarized the morning’s message:
Tax governance—not litigation—should be the real strategy.

Click here to download the presentation.

Panel Discussion: Practical Experiences from All Sides

A distinguished panel enriched the conversation with real-world perspectives:

• Dr. Dominic Naab (GRA)
• Mrs. Aziza Atta (Stafford Law)
• Mohammed Hafisdeen Dawda (Legal Ink)
• Nana Yaw Ntrakwah, Esq. (Ntrakwah & Co.)
• Bobby Banson, Esq., FCIArb (Robert Smith Law Group)

Across their contributions, recurring themes emerged:

• Build a culture of documentation
• Prioritise early resolution
• Understand your responsibilities during audits
• Strengthen internal tax governance structures
• Collaborate with GRA rather than adopt an adversarial posture

Their collective advice could be summed up as:
“Litigation is a consequence—not a strategy.”

Looking Ahead: Preparing for VAT Reforms in 2026

With VAT reforms taking effect in January 2026, PwC Ghana is offering a specialised training for businesses seeking clarity and readiness. The session will support organisations to strengthen internal reporting systems and avoid compliance penalties. 🔗 Click here for registration details.

GNBCC extends heartfelt thanks to:

• The Pelican Hotel – Event sponsor and host
• The Royal Netherlands Embassy
• EuroCham Ghana & SGCC
• Our speakers and panelists
• All members who attended and contributed

Your engagement ensures that these policy-focused dialogues continue to strengthen Ghana’s business environment and support more informed, resilient companies.