Bento Africa, a payroll management startup, has failed to remit taxes and pensions for some of its Ghanaian clients, according to sources familiar with the matter. This comes on the heels of similar allegations against the company in Nigeria, where it also struggled to meet tax and pension remittance obligations. Bento expanded its services to Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda in 2021.
Sources cite poor documentation and high employee turnover as reasons for these failures. One source revealed that clients were asked to provide tax numbers and salary details at registration, but months later, they were asked for the same information again. This led to delays, and in some instances, Bento collected money without filing taxes.
A former employee of a business that used Bento in Ghana shared that they discovered unpaid withholding taxes, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions, and PAYE deductions in January 2023. Attempts to resolve the issue were hindered by Bento’s frequent personnel changes, with former CEO Ebun Okubanjo stepping in at one point but failing to resolve the matter. The employee claimed that their business had over GH₵ 12,000 in unpaid taxes and PAYE.
Despite promises to make payments, Bento failed to remit seven months’ worth of PAYE and pension contributions for this business. Okubanjo did not respond to requests for comments from Techpoint Africa regarding the allegations.
Bento’s failures in Ghana led to penalties from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), which frustrated affected businesses. The company’s internal financial difficulties made it challenging to pay these penalties, creating a cycle of unpaid taxes and mounting fines. Bento’s inability to retain staff further compounded the issue, as new hires struggled with incomplete data, delaying tax filings even further.
Bento’s issues in Ghana mirror similar challenges in Nigeria, raising concerns about the startup’s capacity to manage its operations efficiently across multiple countries. As investigations continue and client concerns grow, Bento Africa faces significant challenges in rebuilding trust and stabilizing its operations before further fallout occurs.
-thehighstreetjournal.com
