The Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, has appealed to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to broaden its focus and target untapped sectors of the economy to widen the national tax net.
He made this call when the Board of Directors, Commissioners and senior members of the GRA paid a courtesy visit to him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday, August 7,2026.
The visit was used to introduce the Board of Directors, seek Asantehene’s blessings and announce the departure of Madam Agnes Adu Gyamfi Adjei, Ashanti Regional Director of GRA.
He stressed the importance of equitable revenue collection while highlighting that tapping into overlooked sectors, especially informal businesses, is critical for maximising national development.
He observed that this will help ease the burden on traditional taxpayers.
“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. Don’t rely solely on the conventional taxpayers. The mechanics, barbers, and others must be reached through their associations. You can set a quota for the associations to mobilise periodically. Turn focus on unconventional sector. If left ,no one will pay tax, but with the right measures, the money can be solicited”, he said.
Asantehene further underscored that the revenue growth depends heavily on the integrity of the tax collectors themselves.
He stressed that, expanding the tax net would yield little result if field officers and revenue officials do not exercise transparency and accountability in their operations.
He appealed to GRA to enforce strict internal discipline, cautioning that corrupt practices and officials dishonesty undermine public trust and deny the state crucial funds needed for national development.
“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.
Otumfuo noted that, integrity will earn the authority, including its staff, honour.
“Your names will be on record as the staff or officials within whose tenure the authority amassed such historic Revenue “.
He commended the leadership of the GRA, headed by Commissioner General Anthony Sarpong for driving noticeable improvements in national revenue collection.
But, while acknowledging these operational gains, he warned that significant revenue leakages still persist within the system.
He stressed that, pluggable administrative loopholes, underreporting, and collection inefficiencies continue to bleed the state of vital resources, appealing to the GRA’s Management to double their mobilization efforts with aggressive antileakage measures.
He said that efficient Revenue mobilisation remains the bedrock of national development, essential for the government to deliver on its socio-economic promises to the people.
The Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Sarpong, briefed Asantehene on the measures propelling revenue maximisation.
“We implemented some reforms. We started at Customs. We have introduced modern technology there. It started in April. It is going well. When the Finance Minister went to Parliament recently recently, he announced it.
“Prior to that, we got GHC4 billion. In the past three months, we have mobilised GHC5.5 billion. In the sixth month, we got GHC6 billion. This shows that the mandate is duly being delivered”, he said.
The GRA delegation included Board Chairman, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagam, Commissioner General of GRA, Anthony Sarpong, Mr Patrick Nomo, Board Member, Madam Faustina Nelson (Board Member), Mr George Aryeetey (Board Member), Laadi Agyamba (Board Member), and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Board Member).
By Benjamin Aidoo
