Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has formally inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), tasking its members with the responsibility of bolstering domestic revenue mobilisation amid one of the most fiscally constrained periods in the country’s recent history.
At a ceremony held in Accra, Dr. Forson emphasized the urgency of the moment, pointing to the government’s restricted access to international capital markets, tight financing conditions, and a significant drop in development assistance following Ghana’s recent debt restructuring efforts.
“This is a defining moment,” he said. “You assume this mantle at a time when the government faces significant fiscal constraints, with tight financing conditions, limited access to the capital market following the debt restructuring programme, and dwindling project and programme grants from development partners.”
He acknowledged President John Dramani Mahama for assembling what he described as a “distinguished team of esteemed and accomplished individuals” to help guide the GRA through this period of transformation and strategic urgency.
At the core of the government’s fiscal strategy is a renewed focus on domestic revenue as a sustainable anchor of national development. Dr. Forson also revealed that the government has set out to increase annual revenue collection by at least 0.6 percentage points of GDP, with the aim of achieving a primary fiscal surplus of 1.5% of GDP by 2025.
He further noted that Ghana seeks to reduce its external debt service-to-revenue ratio from 28% in 2022 to 18% by 2028. The scale of this challenge, he warned, has been underscored by recent external funding losses, including the withdrawal of over US$78 million in USAID health support and US$156 million in funding for economic growth and education programmes, calling it a sobering reminder of the need to build a resilient domestic revenue base.
Dr. Forson outlined several key priorities for the new board, including the need to accelerate GRA’s operational modernisation, combat smuggling and corruption, and establish a performance-driven internal culture.
He also stressed the importance of deepening collaboration with the Ministry of Finance’s Revenue Policy Division.
“The Ghanaian public must have unwavering confidence in GRA’s commitment to fairness and ethical conduct,” he stated. “Revenue lost through corruption translates to unbuilt schools, unpaved roads, and lives adversely affected by inadequate healthcare and poor sanitation.”
To reduce institutional risks and promote organisational renewal, the Minister called for a mandatory rotation policy whereby GRA officers would be moved from their current postings every two years. This, he said, would help limit the potential for collusion, while also broadening professional experience and reinforcing the agency’s integrity framework.
As part of a performance-based approach to public sector management, Dr. Forson also announced plans to sign a performance bonus Memorandum of Understanding with the GRA Commissioner-General, in the presence of the heads of Domestic Tax and Customs.
“Let us remember that every tax cedi collected, and every integrity-driven decision made, brings us closer to building the prosperous, inclusive, and self-reliant Ghana We All Want Together,” he said, before formally declaring the new Governing Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority duly inaugurated.
