Bento Africa, a startup that has been facing scrutiny in Nigeria for failing to remit taxes and pensions for its clients, has now come under fire in Ghana as well. The company expanded to Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda in 2021, but it seems that its woes have followed it to these new markets.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Bento Africa’s failure to remit taxes and pensions in Ghana was due to poor documentation practices and a high turnover rate among its employees. Clients were reportedly asked to provide essential information such as employee tax numbers and salary details at registration, but the lack of proper documentation led to delays in filings and, in some cases, non-remittance of taxes.
One former employee of a Ghanaian business that used Bento Africa’s services revealed that they discovered unremitted withholding tax, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions, and PAYE deductions in January 2023. Despite reaching out to their account manager at Bento for a resolution, frequent personnel changes within the company made it challenging to address the issue.
The former employee shared, “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.” This business had about seven months of PAYE and pension contributions go unpaid by Bento Africa.
When contacted for comments, former CEO Ebun Okubanjo did not provide any insights into the allegations. In Nigeria, Okubanjo had previously blamed the country’s complex tax system for the company’s issues, but it seems that internal challenges were the root cause of the problems.
Bento Africa’s failure to remit taxes and pensions in Ghana resulted in penalties from the country’s tax authority for affected businesses. The company’s internal financial struggles and high turnover rate among employees made it difficult to address these issues promptly, leading to a vicious cycle of penalties and delayed filings.
The company’s inability to retain employees and maintain proper documentation also contributed to its operational inefficiencies in Ghana. With growing concerns from clients and investigations in multiple countries of operation, Bento Africa faces a challenging road ahead to rebuild trust and stabilize its operations.
It remains to be seen whether the company can address its systemic issues before facing further fallout. The revelations in Ghana mirror the issues faced in Nigeria, raising questions about whether Bento Africa expanded too quickly without ensuring operational efficiency.
