The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched two major initiatives aimed at driving tax compliance as the country seeks to reduce overdependence on foreign aid and borrowing through effective mobilization of domestic revenue. Speaking in Accra on Wednesday, Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong emphasized that paying taxes is not a punishment but rather how citizens help build the roads, hospitals, schools, and jobs that keep the country functioning.
Mr. Sarpong said that a stronger and safer Ghana can only happen if everyone, from big businesses and small shops to artisans, market women, and young professionals, plays their part in meeting tax obligations. He stressed that Ghana’s socio-economic development should not depend on external support but on the collective commitment of its citizens.
“Our progress as a nation depends not on external aid but on our collective commitment to contribute faithfully to raise domestic revenue for our common good,” he remarked. The statement underscores the government’s strategy to build fiscal sustainability through enhanced domestic resource mobilization rather than relying on donor funding and international loans.
To make tax compliance easier, the GRA has introduced a national tax education programme that will run for the next three years. Authority officials will visit schools, universities, markets, churches, business groups, and social media platforms to teach people how taxes work, how to register, how to file, and how to pay. The goal is to remove confusion, explain concepts in everyday language, and help everyone understand their rights and responsibilities.
The GRA believes that when people understand taxes, they become more willing to fulfill their obligations. The education programme represents a shift from enforcement-focused strategies to a more collaborative approach that prioritizes taxpayer knowledge and voluntary compliance.
The second initiative is the Modified Taxation Scheme (MTS), a new and simpler way for small businesses and individuals to pay tax. The scheme aims to remove the stress and difficulty associated with tax payment, especially for players in the informal sector. It simplifies the calculation of tax obligations and minimizes the administrative burden of payment.
Under the new scheme, businesses that make up to GH¢500,000 annually will pay a flat rate of just three percent. Taxpayers can complete the process on their phones, eliminating long queues and complicated forms. Mr. Sarpong gave examples to illustrate the simplicity: if someone earns GH¢200,000 in a year, the tax is GH¢6,000 for the whole year. If they earn GH¢25,000, the tax is GH¢750.
The GRA has also launched a mobile application, dubbed the MTS app, which is now available on both the Play Store and the App Store to simplify tax payments. The digital solution reflects the Authority’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve taxpayer convenience and expand the tax net.
Mr. Sarpong thanked international partners who have supported Ghana over the years but reminded everyone that “this is our country, and if we want Ghana to change, we must help make that change.” He concluded by emphasizing that citizens must know their taxes, pay their taxes, and help build Ghana together.
The initiatives come at a time when the government is under pressure to increase domestic revenue mobilization to meet development needs and reduce reliance on external financing. The GRA’s approach combines education, simplification, and digitalization to make tax compliance more accessible and less burdensome for ordinary Ghanaians, particularly those operating in the informal sector who have historically been difficult to bring into the tax net.
By targeting behavioral change through education and reducing technical barriers through the simplified scheme, the Authority hopes to expand the taxpayer base and increase revenue collection without imposing additional burdens on existing compliant taxpayers. The success of these initiatives will be critical to Ghana’s fiscal sustainability strategy in the coming years.
