The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is embarking on an ambitious plan to bring eight million new taxpayers into the national tax net as part of a major drive to widen the country’s revenue base and strengthen domestic mobilisation efforts.
The initiative aims to expand Ghana’s current taxpayer population estimated at 19 million through two flagship programmes: the Sustained Tax Education Programme and the Modified Taxation Scheme (MTS).
The GRA projects that successfully onboarding the additional taxpayers could yield up to GH¢40 billion in extra domestic revenue over the next few years.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, described the new measures as one of the Authority’s most significant revenue expansion strategies in recent times.
He emphasised that the reforms are designed to simplify tax compliance, particularly for informal sector operators, and ensure long-term fiscal stability.
“The Modified Tax Scheme has huge potential. Our analysis shows that if we are able to bring at least two million new taxpayers into the net each year, we can significantly increase domestic revenue and support national development,” Mr. Sarpong said.
He added that the informal sector estimated to include about eight million economically active individuals and businesses presents the largest opportunity for expanding the tax base.
Under the first phase of the rollout, the GRA plans to enrol two million new taxpayers annually over the next three years, before scaling up further in the second phase.
The Authority believes the combination of simplified tax processes, improved education, and digital tools will encourage voluntary compliance and reduce revenue leakages.
Mr. Sarpong noted that the expected revenue boost will be crucial for funding priority government programmes and reducing Ghana’s reliance on external borrowing.
The GRA has urged the public, private sector partners, and civil society groups to support the effort to modernise the tax system and build a more sustainable domestic revenue framework
