Last night the GRA office called. The GRA office is like our IRS office; it stands for Ghana Revenue Authority. Anyway they told Steve that they could no longer accept paper filing for annual tax returns for individuals and that they all had to be filled out online by the individual that was filing his / her taxes. None of the employees have access to a computer; they said they could fill them out with their cell phones. Only 2 of the employees have phones that can actually access the internet. Four of the employees cannot read or write. They have just recently learned to make a mark for their signatures instead of thumb printing. We explained all this to them; they could feel our pain but their hands are tied. They sent us a copy of the letter from their big bosses that said no more paper filing. “Plan B” was that we would file on their behalf in their absence but that failed because no one is allowed to file for another person. We tried “Plan C” which was to use one phone number and email address to fill everyone as a group. It failed because when each person signs up they have to have their own cell phone that is tied to their tax ID number; a onetime sign up code is sent to their cell phone. We then moved to “Plan D”. We would have the GRA office teach Zorash how to fill out the forms on her phone and then generate accounts for each person; read the forms to those that cannot read and have them submitted over her phone. That plan was doable but when we got to the office Zorash’s phone was too slow to download anything. On to “Plan E” which was to use our personal computer and go to the employee’s house with Zorash; read and translate the documents to them and have them push the submit button! Please! I wish those in government that voted in this policy had to come up here and get these returns filed online. All the workers are still off work on holiday hence the reason we have to find them. They only have until the 30th of April to file their taxes. Their personal taxes are not our responsibility but if they are charged penalties you know who will have to pay them. We stayed in the office for hours today. Steve told them that next time he was going to bring his bed!
We contracted with Red to make sort of a spice / condiment rack for the kitchen. We sent him the plans over the phone. It will be metal and bolted to the island table that is the center of the kitchen. Right now all the stuff is in a basket; I am always digging to find what I need.
Yesterday we carried the new used sewing machine to Timothy. He was so excited. It is electric and it can make button holes; zig zag and several specialty stitches. Steve called him today to get his Ghana Card number and he was practicing on the machine! Presently if he wants decorative stitches on something he is making he has to go to town and pay someone to do them for him. Our grandson Taylor has a job and he gave us some money to do something special with so we used it to pay for most of the sewing machine. Timothy is more than willing to pay for the rest. It is better for Timothy to pay for part of the machine.
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
