The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is initiating an ambitious strategy aimed at incorporating eight million new taxpayers into the national tax system as part of a significant effort to broaden the country’s revenue base and enhance domestic mobilization initiatives.
This initiative seeks to increase Ghana’s existing taxpayer population, which is estimated at 19 million, through two primary programs: the Sustained Tax Education Programme and the Modified Taxation Scheme (MTS).
The GRA anticipates that successfully integrating these additional taxpayers could generate up to GH¢40 billion in additional domestic revenue over the forthcoming years.
During the launch event in Accra, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, characterized the new measures as one of the Authority’s most important strategies for revenue expansion in recent history.
He stressed that the reforms are intended to simplify tax compliance, especially for operators in the informal sector, and to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
“The Modified Tax Scheme has significant potential. Our analysis indicates that if we can successfully bring at least two million new taxpayers into the system each year, we can greatly enhance domestic revenue and support national development,” Mr. Sarpong stated.
He further mentioned that the informal sector, which is estimated to encompass around eight million economically active individuals and businesses, represents the largest opportunity for expanding the tax base.
In the first phase of the implementation, the GRA intends to enroll two million new taxpayers each year over the next three years, before further scaling up in the subsequent phase.
The Authority is confident that the combination of simplified tax procedures, enhanced education, and digital tools will promote voluntary compliance and minimize revenue leakages.
Mr. Sarpong emphasized that the anticipated revenue increase will be crucial for financing priority government programs and reducing Ghana’s dependence on external borrowing.
The GRA has called upon the public, private sector collaborators, and civil society organizations to assist in the initiative aimed at modernizing the tax system and establishing a more sustainable domestic revenue framework.
