Make tax system fairer to boost compliance, says Ghana's Vice President

Ghana's Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, is advocating for a tax system that is both simpler and fairer, aiming to encourage greater voluntary compliance from individuals and businesses. She emphasized that taxpayers are more inclined to fulfill their obligations when they comprehend the regulations, experience good service, and have confidence in the responsible use of public funds. Speaking at the 14th Annual International Tax Conference in Accra, Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to reform the tax system. These reforms seek to alleviate the burden on households and businesses while ensuring sufficient revenue mobilization for national development. She noted that the government has already abolished certain taxes that were burdensome and has implemented significant changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system through the Value Added Tax Act, 2025. To enhance tax administration, the reforms are being bolstered by increased utilization of technology and data. Ghana is also improving the taxation of cross-border transactions on digital platforms and introducing fiscal electronic devices to strengthen compliance. The Vice President urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to improve taxpayer education, consultation, and service delivery, and stressed the importance of integrating the informal sector into the tax system practically. Tax professionals are also called upon to assist businesses and individuals in understanding their obligations and to support policy development for improved compliance.

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People are more willing to comply when they believe that the system is fair.