Nana Kwasi Boatey, the new Managing Director of Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL), has publicly confronted his predecessor, David Asante Boateng, over an alleged GH¢22 million in outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) liabilities that accrued during the 2020‑2024 period. Boatey revealed the figure at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, November 6, when the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) demanded payment of the tax arrears.
Boatey said the unpaid tax obligations are among the major financial challenges he inherited when he took over the state‑owned publishing company. He insisted that Ghanaians deserve clarity on how the liabilities arose and why they remained unsettled. “Does he dispute that GPCL was left with approximately GHC22 million in outstanding VAT liabilities relating to the period 2021 to 2024? Is it also not the case that VAT payments were not made during those years,” he asked, urging Boateng to explain the company’s tax position during his tenure.
In response, Boateng posted on Facebook that he had transformed GPCL into a profitable institution and advised Boatey to focus on his own work and speak less. Boatey countered in a statement issued on Friday, November 6, that he was not claiming credit for his predecessor’s achievements and that his comments were intended to provide an accurate account of the company’s financial position.
Boatey also highlighted the performance of his own administration, noting a profit of GH¢16.9 million recorded under his leadership. He maintained that the company’s financial performance under his watch should be assessed alongside the liabilities inherited from previous years, stressing the need to distinguish between the achievements of the current administration and outstanding obligations accumulated before he took office.
The dispute has brought the issue of tax compliance at state‑owned enterprises into sharp focus. The GRA’s demand for payment of the VAT arrears underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public sector management. Boatey’s challenge to Boateng signals a push for clearer financial reporting and a demand for responsibility from former executives.
What follows is a continued public exchange between the two former MDs, with Boatey urging Boateng to confirm or deny the existence of the debt and to explain why the payments were not made during the 2020‑2024 window. The outcome of this confrontation could set a precedent for how state‑owned companies address inherited liabilities and how accountability is enforced in Ghana’s public sector.
