The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has unveiled an ambitious plan to onboard eight million new taxpayers into the national tax net as part of a sweeping strategy to broaden Ghana’s revenue base and boost domestic resource mobilisation.
The initiative, announced in Accra, is anchored on two major programmes — the Sustained Tax Education Programme and the Modified Taxation Scheme (MTS) — both designed to simplify compliance, especially for informal sector operators.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, described the initiative as one of the Authority’s most transformative revenue expansion efforts in recent years. He said successfully integrating the additional taxpayers could generate up to GH¢40 billion in extra domestic revenue over the next few years.
“The Modified Tax Scheme has huge potential. Our analysis shows that if we can bring at least two million new taxpayers into the net each year, domestic revenue will rise significantly to support national development,” Mr. Sarpong stated.
He noted that the informal sector — which accounts for about eight million economically active individuals and enterprises — represents the largest untapped potential for tax growth.
Under the first phase of implementation, the GRA will enrol two million new taxpayers annually over the next three years before expanding further in the second phase. The Authority believes this structured approach, coupled with digitalisation, continuous education, and simplified filing processes, will enhance voluntary compliance and minimise revenue leakages.
Mr. Sarpong stressed that the expected revenue gains will play a pivotal role in financing key government initiatives and reducing the country’s dependence on external borrowing.
He called on the public, private sector actors, and civil society organisations to support the Authority’s drive to modernise Ghana’s tax administration and establish a more sustainable domestic revenue framework.
