Asantehene Commends Ghana Revenue Authority for Improved Revenue Generation
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, praised the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for significantly improving local revenue generation.
- He noted a substantial increase in revenue collection since the new GRA leadership took over last year, attributing it to effective reforms.
- The Asantehene emphasized that strong revenue collection is crucial for funding national development projects and urged the GRA to sustain its efforts and broaden the tax net through education.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has lauded the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for its success in boosting national revenue. He specifically commended the new leadership, which took charge last year, for implementing results-oriented measures that have led to a noticeable increase in local revenue generation over the past three months.
Since the new GRA leadership took over last year, I have realised that you are doing well in terms of local revenue generation. For the past three months, I have become aware that revenue generation has gone up.
During a courtesy call at the Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene highlighted that the impressive performance stems from the introduction of appropriate reforms within the revenue collection system. He urged the GRA's management and board to maintain this momentum and continue their effective strategies. The delegation, which included the Board Chairman Kweku Ricketts Hagan and Commissioner General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, visited to introduce themselves and seek his blessings.
despite structural leakages within the system, you have done very well to shore up revenue generation. Obviously, this will help the government in funding its development projects and interventions.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu acknowledged that despite existing structural challenges within the system, the GRA has performed admirably in shoring up revenue. He stressed that robust tax collection is vital for the government to fund essential development projects, including schools, roads, and health infrastructure. The Asantehene reminded the GRA of its mandate from the Ministry of Finance to collect necessary taxes locally to support the nation's growth and benefit its citizens.
it is through taxes that funds can be raised to execute such projects, be they schools, roads, health infrastructure, among others.
He further urged the GRA to develop innovative ways to ensure citizens and businesses, from large corporations to informal sector entities, fulfill their tax obligations. The Asantehene believes that intensified public education can encourage those who evade taxes to understand the importance of contributing to national progress. He noted that while society is often reluctant to pay taxes, informed citizens are more likely to honor their obligations, thereby broadening the tax base.
If GRA does not work hard to collect the required taxes from bigger firms to smaller ones, including those in the informal sector bracket, the development we all desire to achieve cannot be realised.
Originally published by Daily Graphic in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.