The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commended the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for putting in place results-oriented measures and interventions that have improved revenue generation in the country.
“Since the new GRA leadership took over last year, I have realised that you are doing well in terms of local revenue generation.
For the past three months, I have become aware that revenue generation has gone up,” the Asantehene stressed.
He said the impressive performance was a result of the introduction of the right reforms within the revenue generation ecosystem, and, therefore, urged the management and board to sustain it.
Courtesy call
Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the remarks when the top management and board of the GRA paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace last Friday.
The delegation visited to officially introduce themselves to the Asantehene since their appointment in 2025.
The visit also afforded the delegation the opportunity to thank the revered traditional ruler for his support in relation to revenue generation in the region, and to seek his blessings in their operations.
The delegation included the Board Chairman, Kweku Ricketts Hagan; the Commissioner General, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong; and board members Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Faustina Nelson, Dr Francis-Xavier Sosu and George Ayiretey.
Others were Commissioner, Support Services Division, Dr Alex Adomako Mensah; Commissioner, Customs Division, Aaron Kanor; and Commissioner, Domestic Tax Revenue Division, Dr Martin Yamborigya.
The Asantehene said “despite structural leakages within the system, you have done very well to shore up revenue generation. Obviously, this will help the government in funding its development projects and interventions”.
Execution of projects
Otumfuo Osei Tutu further stated that the numerous development projects envisioned by the government could only be realised if funds were readily available, saying “it is through taxes that funds can be raised to execute such projects, be they schools, roads, health infrastructure, among others”.
He said the Ministry of Finance, through the GRA, was mandated to collect the needed tax revenue locally to support the growth and development of the nation for the benefit of the citizenry.
“If GRA does not work hard to collect the required taxes from bigger firms to smaller ones, including those in the informal sector bracket, the development we all desire to achieve cannot be realised,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu stated.
He urged the GRA to devise ways and strategies to ensure that people honoured their appropriate tax obligations to the state.
The Otumfuo said there was the need for a change about how people evaded taxes, saying “I believe that with intensified education, such people can be brought on board to pay taxes to broaden the tax net”.
He said society was generally not willing and happy to pay taxes, but when people were well-informed about the need to pay and the attendant benefits on national progress, they would be willing to do so.
Avoid personal interest
The Asantehene cautioned officers at the GRA against putting their personal interest above that of the nation in the discharge of their duties, and said “if officers decide to undervalue products for their personal gain, it will be a disservice to the nation”.
“You are employed and paid so well, and so if you decide to work to better your life at the expense of the nation, then remember that such acts are detrimental to Ghana’s progress,” he said.
Major reforms
The Commissioner-General, Mr Sarpong, said one of the major reforms the new leadership introduced at the beginning of this year was the deployment of artificial intelligence to support the authority in valuing the duties that had to be collected.
He said before the implementation of the reform in April this year, the GRA used to collect about GH¢4 billion a month, but in June alone, they collected GH¢5.5 billion, and collected GH¢6.1 billion in July.
This means our customs reforms are working, and we want to thank the business community, importers and GRA staff for supporting and making sure that the reform is working,” Mr Sarpong said.
Fort his part, Mr Hagan underscored the need for Ghanaians to contribute their quota by ensuring that GRA raised the resources needed by the Ministry of Finance to fund projects for the benefit of all.
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