Michael Okyere Baafi, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, has urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to rethink its tax collection approach, advocating for a shift from intimidation to a more persuasive and collaborative strategy.
Speaking at the National Sales Leaders Conference in Accra on August 14, Mr. Baafi’s remarks follow concerns raised by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in the Ashanti Region about the intimidating and discriminatory treatment they receive from the Customs Division of the GRA.
GUTA members in the Ashanti Region have complained about a pattern of discrimination and intimidation, which they say has damaged the relationship between the business community and the tax authorities.
In response, the Deputy Minister emphasized the need for a strategic approach to tax collection.
He argued that the GRA’s current tactics, which often rely on heavy enforcement and an adversarial approach, are counterproductive, alienating taxpayers and reducing the effectiveness of revenue collection.
Mr. Baafi stressed that the GRA should move away from being purely enforcement-focused and instead see itself as an essential part of the broader economic system, working alongside businesses to enhance compliance and revenue collection.
“One of the board meetings that I attended at the Ghana Revenue Authority, I was sharing a view with the board members that it is high time the GRA as an institution moved away from enforcement to being part and parcel of the system.
“So that they can see the taxpayer as somebody who is important to government business so they have to pamper them and get the attention to get more. By that, we are sure we will be able to generate or get a lot of revenue for the state.”
