The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is tightening enforcement on residents with offshore income as part of a sweeping drive to plug revenue leaks and broaden the tax net.
Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong disclosed that over 1,000 letters have already been issued to Ghanaians with foreign assets and income, instructing them to reconcile tax payments made abroad with their domestic obligations.
“This is an area where we have put it in a very high gear. We have a team that is strongly working on it because we have a hub in the global network,” Mr. Sarpong said at the 2025 Annual International Tax Conference.
“Today, if you have investments, assets, and you are earning income outside Ghana, we do receive this information. We are working to ensure that if they have paid taxes on those assets outside, we can now compare with what they ought to pay in Ghana, and if there is any differential of those taxes, Ghana can also earn its fair share,” he added.
The crackdown is being powered by global data-sharing arrangements under the automatic exchange of information framework, which enables tax authorities to access detailed financial data on residents’ overseas holdings.
For years, Ghana has struggled to capture offshore earnings in its tax base, a gap analysts say has deprived government of significant non-oil revenues. Officials believe the new initiative could help close this loophole, especially as the country works to strengthen fiscal consolidation under its current IMF programme.
Tax experts argue the move is not only about plugging revenue shortfalls but also about ensuring equity. Residents who benefit from global investment opportunities, they say, should not be allowed to skirt their domestic obligations.
The GRA’s expanded enforcement comes at a time when the government is under pressure to shore up revenue without imposing new taxes that could further strain businesses and households.
