The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has hosted the Board of Directors, Commissioners and senior management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where he commended the Authority’s efforts to improve domestic revenue mobilisation and urged it to widen the tax net.
The delegation, led by the GRA Board Chairman, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, and Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong, paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The visit provided an opportunity for the GRA leadership to formally introduce the Board to the Asantehene, seek his blessings and brief him on recent reforms and developments within the Authority.
The delegation also used the occasion to announce the departure of the Ashanti Regional Director of the GRA, Madam Agnes Adu Gyamfi Adjei.
In his remarks, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commended the GRA for its efforts to improve revenue collection but urged the Authority to intensify its efforts to bring more businesses and individuals into the formal tax system.
He said broadening the tax base, particularly by targeting informal-sector operators, would help distribute the tax burden more equitably and provide government with additional resources for national development.
“Many people do not pay tax. Devise avenues to get them and tax them. Some people do not even know they have to pay taxes. Sensitise the public about the need to pay taxes so they accept it,” he said.
He encouraged the GRA to work closely with associations representing informal-sector operators, including mechanics and barbers, as part of efforts to improve tax education, registration and compliance.
The Asantehene also stressed the importance of integrity within the GRA, warning that revenue mobilisation efforts could be undermined if tax officials engaged in corrupt practices or failed to act transparently.
He urged the Authority to strengthen internal controls and discipline to prevent revenue leakages and protect the interests of the state.
“If your officers decide to cancel tax debt for their personal gain, that goes against the state. If we don’t want to go for loans, then we need to mobilise revenue locally, and that will spur development,” he said.
Otumfuo said strong revenue mobilisation was essential to reducing the country’s dependence on borrowing and creating the fiscal space needed to finance national development.
He further commended the leadership of the GRA, under Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong, for what he described as noticeable improvements in revenue collection.
He, however, cautioned that administrative loopholes, underreporting and other inefficiencies continued to result in revenue losses and called for stronger anti-leakage measures.
GRA reforms
Briefing the Asantehene on the Authority’s recent initiatives, Mr Sarpong highlighted reforms being implemented to improve revenue mobilisation and modernise tax administration.
He said the GRA had introduced modern technology at the Customs Division as part of efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen revenue assurance.
“We implemented some reforms. We started at Customs. We have introduced modern technology there. It started in April. It is going well,” he said.
According to the Commissioner-General, the reforms were already contributing to improved revenue collection.
“Prior to that, we got GH¢4 billion. In the past three months, we have mobilised GH¢5.5 billion. In the sixth month, we got GH¢6 billion. This shows that the mandate is duly being delivered,” he said.
The GRA delegation included Board Chairman George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan; Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong; and Board Members Patrick Nomo, Faustina Nelson, George Aryeetey, Laadi Agyamba and Francis-Xavier Sosu.
Other members included Commissioner for Support Services, Hon. Dr Alex Adomako; Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division, Dr Martin Kolbil Yamborigya; Commissioner of Customs, Aaron Kanor; Technical Adviser to the Commissioner-General, Elsie Appau-Klu Esq.; and other senior officials of the Authority.
Source: businesspostonline
