Financial analyst, Dr. Richmond Atuahene, is calling on the government to urgently implement comprehensive GRA reforms to better equip the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs).
According to Dr. Atuahene, the current operational framework of the GRA lacks the advanced tools, technology, and skilled personnel necessary to address these complex crimes. This deficiency has led to Ghana losing billions of cedis annually to financial malfeasance.
IFFs, defined as money earned, transferred, or used illicitly, pose a significant threat to Ghana’s economy. These funds stem from sources such as commercial tax evasion, trade mis-invoicing, abusive transfer pricing, criminal activities like drug trafficking, and corruption.
Dr. Atuahene asserts that addressing these challenges requires targeted GRA reforms to bolster the agency’s capacity to detect and curtail these practices.
The financial analyst’s recommendations include retooling GRA’s Tax Audit and Transfer Pricing Units with state-of-the-art technology, as well as recruiting and training personnel to handle emerging challenges in revenue mobilization. He explained that such GRA reforms are essential to enhance audit quality and improve tax compliance, particularly in sectors prone to financial malfeasance.
Dr. Atuahene also highlighted the need to embrace digital transformation. “The government should resource the Ghana Revenue Authority with advanced equipment and technology to enable higher audit quality and tackle Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs),” he stated. He further emphasized the importance of digital tax filing and payment systems to improve compliance and reduce evasion.
Beyond addressing IFFs, Dr. Atuahene believes that GRA reforms should include innovative tax policies that reflect emerging economic realities. He advocated for taxing evolving sectors such as e-commerce, gaming, and environmental activities, as well as introducing wealth taxation. According to him, these measures would create a more equitable tax system while generating significant revenue to support national development.
Dr. Atuahene’s call for GRA reforms comes at a time when President-elect Mahama has committed to scrapping certain taxes deemed nuisance or counterproductive, including the E-levy, Betting Tax, and COVID-19 Levy.
While critics warn that these tax removals could result in an annual revenue loss of GHC 6 billion, Dr. Atuahene argues that an overhauled tax administration system can compensate for these losses through increased efficiency and compliance.
The economic benefits of these reforms go beyond revenue mobilization. Properly implemented GRA reforms would drive socio-economic development by reducing the fiscal gap, curbing corruption, and creating a fairer tax environment for all sectors of the economy. Financial institutions could also be encouraged to create tailored products to support businesses and individuals in meeting their tax obligations.
For Ghana to achieve sustainable development and improve its economic resilience, prioritizing GRA reforms is essential. The government, in collaboration with private stakeholders, must provide the necessary resources and technical support to the GRA, ensuring it becomes a modern and efficient tax administration capable of driving growth and tackling financial crimes.
