The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is making waves by unveiling a new IT Training Center in Tema and launching a revamped Customer Service Improvement Program. These initiatives, pivotal to Ghana’s tax administration, are designed to enhance efficiency and service delivery, reaffirming GRA’s commitment to better engagement with its stakeholders.
Central to these efforts is the newly constructed IT Training Center, a €5 million project funded by the German KfW Bank. This state-of-the-art, two-story facility is set to transform GRA’s workforce by offering advanced digital tools and e-learning platforms, enabling staff to acquire key digital skills and stay ahead in a rapidly changing tax environment. By the end of 2022, the center is expected to be fully operational, marking a new era in the authority’s push toward digitization.
Equally significant is GRA’s updated Service Charter, launched alongside its Customer Service Improvement Program. The program emphasizes the need for seamless interactions between taxpayers and the authority, with the ultimate goal of making tax compliance easier and more transparent. Reverend Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the GRA’s Commissioner-General, underscored the importance of meeting taxpayers halfway, aiming to foster a system that enhances voluntary compliance. This initiative includes the introduction of the Cashless Policy and the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), both of which have already slashed transaction times and simplified operations.
These technological advancements come in response to the World Bank’s Tax Gap Analysis, which identified critical areas for improvement in Ghana’s tax collection and compliance processes. The GRA, taking these findings seriously, is spearheading educational initiatives to inform citizens about their tax obligations and the benefits of compliance. The focus is clear: reduce the VAT, corporate, and import tax gaps, and make tax administration more efficient.
Through these steps, GRA is positioning itself as a leader in public sector reform, leveraging digital infrastructure to achieve greater transparency in its tax operations. Initiatives like the electronic tax clearance certificates and electronic VAT invoicing demonstrate the authority’s forward-thinking approach, setting a high bar for service delivery across Ghana’s public sector.
