[Ghana] Bento Africa failed to meet businesses’ pension and tax obligations

Bento Africa has failed to remit taxes and pensions for some of its clients in Ghana, mirroring issues that the startup has had in Nigeria, Techpoint Africa reports.

Bento expanded to Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda in 2021.

According to Techpoint Africa, two sources familiar with the matter allege that Bento’s failure to remit these monies stems from poor documentation and a high employee turnover rate.

“Bento, over the years, has failed to document information that clients give to them,” one source reportedly said.

“Clients are asked to provide employee tax numbers and salary details at registration, but months later, they are still being asked for the same information. This leads to delays, and in some cases, Bento collects the money but doesn’t file the taxes,” the source added.

A former employee of a business which had used Bento in Ghana told Techpoint Africa that they first discovered unremitted withholding tax, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions and PAYE deductions in January 2023. They subsequently contacted their account manager at Bento for a resolution. 

Frequent personnel changes at Bento reportedly made it challenging to resolve the issue and led to intervention from former CEO Ebun Okubanjo.

"Eventually, all the staff left, and then the MD/CEO came in. He assured me that I should send emails and he would respond. I sent emails upon emails, and Ebun did not mind me during this time. As I speak to you, we have withholding taxes and PAYE of more than GH₵ 12,000," the employee told Techpoint Africa.

Around seven months of PAYE and pension contributions for the affected business went unpaid by Bento despite promises to do so.

Mr Okubanjo did not offer insights into the allegations when Techpoint Africa contacted him for comment.

Source: Techpoint Africa

(Quotes via original reporting)

Bento Africa has failed to remit taxes and pensions for some of its clients in Ghana, mirroring issues that the startup has had in Nigeria, Techpoint Africa reports.

Bento expanded to Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda in 2021.

According to Techpoint Africa, two sources familiar with the matter allege that Bento’s failure to remit these monies stems from poor documentation and a high employee turnover rate.

“Bento, over the years, has failed to document information that clients give to them,” one source reportedly said.

“Clients are asked to provide employee tax numbers and salary details at registration, but months later, they are still being asked for the same information. This leads to delays, and in some cases, Bento collects the money but doesn’t file the taxes,” the source added.

A former employee of a business which had used Bento in Ghana told Techpoint Africa that they first discovered unremitted withholding tax, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions and PAYE deductions in January 2023. They subsequently contacted their account manager at Bento for a resolution. 

Frequent personnel changes at Bento reportedly made it challenging to resolve the issue and led to intervention from former CEO Ebun Okubanjo.

"Eventually, all the staff left, and then the MD/CEO came in. He assured me that I should send emails and he would respond. I sent emails upon emails, and Ebun did not mind me during this time. As I speak to you, we have withholding taxes and PAYE of more than GH₵ 12,000," the employee told Techpoint Africa.

Around seven months of PAYE and pension contributions for the affected business went unpaid by Bento despite promises to do so.

Mr Okubanjo did not offer insights into the allegations when Techpoint Africa contacted him for comment.

Source: Techpoint Africa

(Quotes via original reporting)