Ghana’s development, as Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Anthony Kwasi Sarpong sees it, depends on something very simple but often difficult to achieve, institutions that people can trust, understand, and actually work with.
Speaking on the direction of tax reforms, he paints a picture of an institution in transition. One that is steadily moving away from complexity and distance, toward a system that is simpler, more transparent, and more responsive to the realities of taxpayers.
But for him, this change is not just about technology or new systems. It is about the relationship between the tax authority and the people it serves. A relationship he says must become less confrontational and more cooperative, where frustration is reduced, information is clearer, and education becomes part of how the system works every day. Ultimately, he believes compliance should come more from understanding and trust than pressure.
At the centre of this transformation is the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), a platform designed to bring different tax processes together and give taxpayers and their advisors a more seamless experience.
Still, he is careful not to present ITAS as the full story. Real reform, he suggests, depends on something wider, an ecosystem that includes tax practitioners, accounting firms, finance professionals, professional bodies, and even the media. Together, they help translate policy into practice, raise important questions, and shape public confidence as the system evolves.
Within the broader national direction of the RESET Agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, he argues that Ghana’s economic transformation will only hold if the tax system behind it is modern and effective.
And so, the direction is clearly to build a tax system that works with people, not just for institutions, one grounded in clarity, trust, and shared responsibility for national development.
