Newly appointed acting Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong’s commitment comes amid tightening government finances and the pressing need to enhance domestic tax mobilization to fill funding gaps caused by diminishing external support
“Our sector minister has already indicated that in 2025, GRA is expected to exceed 200 billion cedis in tax revenue. We are fully embracing this challenge because improving domestic tax mobilization is central to Ghana’s economic recovery agenda,” Sarpong declared during a familiarization visit to the Large Taxpayer Office and the Circle Tax Service Centre
Sarpong stressed that empowering GRA staff is the cornerstone of achieving this ambitious target. By addressing operational challenges and enhancing workforce motivation, he believes the GRA can unlock untapped revenue potential.
He pledged to equip GRA staff with the tools and resources needed to efficiently mobilize revenue, acknowledging that the authority’s success hinges on a motivated and well-supported workforce.
By visiting the Large Taxpayer Office, Sarpong signaled a renewed emphasis on high-revenue sectors, aiming to improve compliance among Ghana’s biggest businesses.
With external funding sources tightening and Ghana facing a significant fiscal deficit, improving domestic tax collection has become a national priority. The government is counting on the GRA to bridge funding gaps and support key initiatives, including public sector salaries and debt servicing obligations.
“We know that some sources of funding have been closed to the government, so enhancing domestic tax mobilization is critical to resetting Ghana’s economic agenda,” Sarpong emphasized
While the GH₵200 billion target reflects bold ambition, several challenges stand in the way low tax compliance rates, particularly among SMEs and the informal sector, inefficient tax collection systems that hinder revenue optimization, public resistance to tax hikes, especially amid inflationary pressures.
To address these issues, experts suggest digitalizing tax collection to streamline processes and improve transparency, expanding the tax net to capture more businesses and individuals, strengthening taxpayer education to foster voluntary compliance.
With the weight of Ghana’s fiscal health resting heavily on the GRA’s shoulders, Sarpong’s leadership will be closely scrutinized in the coming months. His success in surpassing the GH₵200 billion target could not only stabilize the country’s finances but also bolster investor confidence and pave the way for sustainable growth.
However, failure to meet the target could deepen Ghana’s fiscal woes, forcing the government to seek alternative funding sources, possibly through more borrowing or spending cuts.
