The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is intensifying its integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into tax administration as part of a strategic effort to curb revenue leakages and boost government coffers. This comes as Ghana ramps up its digital transformation agenda across public finance institutions.
The announcement was made during the National Dialogue on Tax Revenue Leakages, held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), where key stakeholders gathered to discuss the critical role of technology in safeguarding national revenues.
Speaking at the event, GRA Deputy Commissioner Elsie Appau-Klu underscored the Authority’s renewed focus on leveraging advanced analytics to enhance transparency and efficiency in revenue collection.
“These technologies are being used to identify anomalies in tax filings, expose suspicious trade activities, and trigger targeted audits. We are leveraging innovation to prevent losses and recover unpaid taxes more efficiently,” Appau-Klu stated.
According to her, AI and ML tools are being deployed across critical sectors including banking, telecommunications, customs, and utilities to enable real-time data analysis and automated risk detection.
Spotlight on SML’s Expanding Role in Revenue Assurance
The forum also spotlighted Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), an indigenous revenue assurance technology firm that has emerged as a pivotal player in Ghana’s digital tax oversight framework.
Initially contracted to handle transaction audits on imported goods, SML has over the past five years evolved into a national partner, now spearheading real-time monitoring within the downstream petroleum sector.
Dr. Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Director of Support Services at SML Ghana, highlighted the company’s role in closing data gaps in fuel volume reporting.
“Our centralised monitoring platform, which links data from the GRA, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and depot operators, has dramatically improved transparency in fuel volume reporting,” she said.
Before SML’s intervention, reported monthly fuel volumes hovered around 208 million litres significantly below actual lifting figures. Today, volumes have surged to over 450 million litres per month. Between May 2020 and December 2024 alone, SML’s system captured over 14 billion litres of previously unreported fuel, translating into more than GH¢20 billion in additional tax revenue for the state.
Dr. Sarpong also revealed that SML is preparing to expand its audit and assurance footprint into Ghana’s upstream petroleum and mining sectors, signaling a broader transformation of how extractive resources are monitored and taxed.
The GRA’s growing reliance on AI and strategic partnerships with tech-driven firms like SML marks a pivotal shift in Ghana’s public sector governance. As the country navigates economic recovery and seeks to broaden its revenue base, the fusion of data science and policy enforcement may prove critical to long-term fiscal sustainability.
