GRA pushes data-driven tax administration to boost revenue mobilisation

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is intensifying the utilization of data analytics in tax administration, emphasizing that advanced statistical tools will be vital for improving revenue generation, enhancing compliance and facilitating informed decision-making. During the commencement of the 2026 GRA Statistics and Data Analysts’ Seminar in Ho, the Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Elsie Appau-Klu, highlighted that Ghana's revenue collection system must evolve to match the rapid pace of a digitizing economy.

Referring to remarks made on behalf of the Commissioner-General, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, she pointed out that Ghana continues to struggle with revenue mobilization, with the country's tax-to-GDP ratio remaining below potential. Currently, tax authorities collect only approximately half of the anticipated Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, and corporate income tax performance also falls short of expectations.

According to Appau-Klu, while traditional tax administration methods remain crucial, they are insufficient alone. The rising use of digital transactions, mobile money, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence is reshaping the economy, introducing new challenges for tax administrators. She underscored that as the economy becomes increasingly digital, tax administration must become more intelligent, responsive, and data-driven.

The five-day seminar, scheduled from August 18 to August 22 at the Volta Serene Hotel, focuses on the theme, "The Modern Statistician: Driving Revenue Growth Through Data Analytics." Appau-Klu explained that statisticians and data analysts within the GRA are no longer limited to producing periodic reports. Instead, they are becoming central contributors to strategy formulation, forecasting, policy development, and compliance management.

As detectives, analysts will employ data to identify untapped economic segments, emerging business activities, and inconsistencies between economic activity and tax performance. Questions such as identifying those outside the tax net, pinpointing underperforming sectors, and discovering new revenue growth opportunities should be addressed through data-driven analysis.

In risk management, the Authority will leverage analytical tools to detect high-risk sectors, unusual compliance patterns, and emerging tax threats. Effective risk management will allow the Authority to allocate resources more effectively while minimizing unnecessary compliance burdens on compliant taxpayers. Appau-Klu urged analysts to become active policy advisers by measuring the impact of tax reforms, compliance measures, and taxpayer education programs.

She emphasized that tax policy decisions should be based on rigorous modeling rather than intuition. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of data integrity, warning that subpar data could jeopardize decision-making and lead to ineffective policies. As the GRA advances data integration and analytical capabilities, she reiterated the Authority's commitment to confidentiality, information security, and responsible use of taxpayer information.

Participants at the seminar were encouraged to produce practical outcomes, focusing on three priority areas: strengthening regional revenue intelligence, enhancing predictive revenue models, and developing data-driven initiatives that can be implemented by the end of 2026.