Various leaders and management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have begun works to develop a comprehensive plan aimed at improving tax compliance. This will help widen the tax net in order to mobilize revenue to exceed the GH₵220 billion target set for the authority this year.
According to the acting Commissioner General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the discussions will help improve domestic revenue collection to meet the government’s planned expenditure for 2025.
He spoke to Joybusiness during a tour of some key tax centres and Customs collection points in the country.
“Based on your performance last year, I will be expecting you to do a minimum of GH₵11 billion, which will constitute about 5% of our working target, which is GH₵220 billion”, he told GRA officials.
“I have every belief that you will achieve that. Our work is also to ensure that we give you some of the logistics and support so that you can have peace of mind and focus on the work” he charged.
Mr. Sarpong also visited the Tema Port Collection point where the Sector Commander, Assistant Commissioner Thereza Potarkey, assured him of working efficiently to exceed the target.
She also requested more resources for the Tema Command.
“Based on the fact that the Tema Collection is responsible for generating almost all of Customs revenue, I must respectfully state that the Collection needs to be better resourced. I don’t intend to bore you with a myriad of problems, but I shall mention a few challenges we face that hinder our operations”.
She pointed out that one major concern is the infrastructure challenges facing the staff.
“Our current working environment needs to be upgraded to provide a good working environment for our staff and the general public. This upgrade will not only enhance our operational efficiency but also improve the overall experience for our clients,” she opined.
The visit by the team from the GRA afforded him the opportunity to interact with the tax officers and recommend strategies to meet the set target of GH₵220 billion.
The team also visited the management of MPS Port Services where some key concerns were raised for government to address.
Myjoyonline