- GRA Board to reduce tax non-compliance.
- Achieve 18%-20% tax/GDP ratio target.
- Address business harassment and digitize tax.
- Board to work with stakeholders.
The Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has charged the newly constituted Ghana Revenue Authority Board to work closely with relevant institutions and stakeholders to reduce tax non-compliance and block revenue leakages. The minister emphasized the importance of achieving the Authority’s medium-term revenue targets of 18%-20% tax/GDP ratio, as well as meeting all indicative targets and structural benchmarks related to revenue under the IMF program.
Dr. Amin Adam made this known when he inaugurated the nine-member board of the Authority, chaired by Joe Ghartey, a former Minister of Railway Development. The members include a Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Alex Ampaabeng, Commissioner-General for GRA, Ms. Julie Essiam, a Deputy Minister of Trade, Micheal Okyere Baafi, and 2nd Deputy Governor for the Bank of Ghana, Mrs. Elsie Addo Awadzi.
The rest of the members are Madam Susan Akomea, Immediate Past Municipal Chief Executive of Asante Akyim Central and a Co-founding member of CENAB UK, Mrs. Araba Bosomtwe, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) holder with international experience in handling high-level administrative duties, and Mr. Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah, a fellow of the Ghana College of Pharmacists and also a board member of the ADB bank.
Dr. Amin Adam indicated that by working closely with other relevant stakeholders, the new Board could effectively address the issues of alleged harassment of business owners, employ a digitalization drive to streamline tax administration, and reduce the heavy dependence on “human interventions”. These and other measures, the MP for Karaga noted, could help build the confidence Ghanaians have in GRA, which would ultimately rake in the needed revenue for development.
The minister disclosed that he would be holding stakeholder meetings with institutions involved with GRA to address issues of alleged harassment of businesses and discuss how they can work to improve the business climate in order for investors to feel confident about investing and doing business in Ghana.
Dr. Amin Adam entreated the Board to “Prioritize necessary improvements and additions to GRA’s physical infrastructure; augment ongoing efforts aimed at fully implementing the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS); build the capacity of our officers; and improve the quality of our data analysis for informed decision-making.”
After assuring the Board of his unflinching support and commitment to lead the staff to drive the GRA to new heights, he added, “We must leave this inauguration with a dedicated resolve to change the narrative and eclipse a 20% threshold of revenue to GDP within the shortest possible time.”
The Finance Minister also commended the previous Board for effective revenue mobilization and noted that “by the numbers, the Authority has consistently met its revenue targets, and I believe strong leadership and dedicated staff have been pivotal in these achievements”.
The Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Joe Ghartey, stated on behalf of the Board that it was a unique opportunity to serve the nation, and that the performance of the Ghana Revenue Authority was crucial, particularly at this point in the country’s history.
The new Board has been tasked with the critical responsibility of ensuring that the Authority achieves its revenue targets, and it is expected to work closely with relevant stakeholders to address the challenges facing the Authority and the country as a whole.
