The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is intensifying efforts to capture the rapidly growing digital economy within its tax net, as part of a broader strategy to boost domestic revenue.
With a surge in online businesses, app-based services, and social media-driven commerce, the GRA sees untapped potential in a sector that has so far operated with limited tax oversight. Commissioner General Anthony Sarpong emphasized that the digital space is no longer a peripheral marketplace, but rather now central to modern commerce.
“Today, you’re more likely to find a service provider on Instagram than in a physical store. These platforms have become the new marketplaces, and if commerce is migrating online, our tax systems must follow,” he stated.
According to Mr. Sarpong, the Authority has already launched initiatives to map and integrate digital players into the national tax framework, ensuring that entrepreneurs leveraging platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and e-commerce sites contribute fairly to national development.
The move aligns with expert recommendations urging the government to explore more practical, inclusive revenue sources, especially amid challenges with traditional tax collection models. Analysts have also called for improved enforcement of property taxes and a stronger push to formalize the informal sector of which digital entrepreneurs are now a significant part.
“The digital economy is not just the business of the future it is the revenue of the future,” Mr. Sarpong noted.
