The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has broken its silence following reports that the National Identification Authority (NIA) disconnected the tax agency from its Identity Verification System (IVS) over alleged unpaid fees, describing the move as unexpected and the claims as questionable.
In a statement issued by the GRA, it expressed surprise at the NIA’s claims of indebtedness and denied the existence of a properly authorized agreement that could have generated such a debt.
“There appears to be a legacy debt inherited from services rendered by the NIA before 2025,” the GRA acknowledged. “However, from our current assessment, these transactions lacked the necessary regulatory and governance approvals.”
According to the tax authority, its internal protocols, rooted in transparency and compliance do not allow it to enforce payments on transactions that fall short of official regulatory requirements.
The GRA also alluded to President John Dramani Mahama’s “reset vision,” which emphasizes adherence to proper governance structures across public institutions.
The disconnection of GRA from the NIA’s identity platform has raised concerns, especially given the central role of the Ghana Card in verifying taxpayers’ identities.
However, the GRA reassured the public that it remains committed to seamless service delivery and is actively engaging the NIA to resolve the impasse.
To challenge the fairness of the NIA’s demands, the GRA revealed that the NIA has, for years, operated desks within GRA offices nationwide to register and issue Ghana Cards without paying rent or utility bills.
“These arrangements were part of our collaborative efforts, and we’ve supported the NIA in delivering its mandate at no cost,” the statement said.
The GRA further revealed it has not been able to confirm the existence of any formal service agreement between itself and the NIA regarding the provision of identity verification services.
“There are ongoing high-level discussions to address procedural breaches, and until these are resolved, we cannot affirm the legitimacy of the so-called debt,” the GRA added.
Despite the disagreement, the GRA struck a conciliatory tone, reaffirming its commitment to inter-agency cooperation and national development goals, particularly the integration of the Ghana Card into the country’s tax system.
“The GRA extends a collaborative hand to the NIA while emphasizing the need to improve our cordial relationship and resolve matters amicably,” the statement added.
The Authority reassured taxpayers and the general public that it remains committed to its core values of fairness, integrity, responsiveness, service, and teamwork.
