Import and Export Association of Ghana calls for Investment in GRA's digital services and payment platforms

The Import and Export Association of Ghana (IEAG) has urged the government to invest more in digital infrastructure, specifically the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) digital services and payment platforms, to enhance efficient, reliable, and seamless service delivery. Samson Awingorbit, speaking at a press conference on August 27, highlighted issues of recurring digital service disruptions and their impact on businesses and the public.

The IEAG pointed out that while Ghana has made strides in adopting digital tools, the level of investment needed to standardize and strengthen the digital experience is currently insufficient. The association noted that a regional challenge is the implementation of digital services without adequate investment in infrastructure, maintenance, and technical capacity to ensure smooth and efficient operation.

A recent example cited was a systemic failure affecting the Ghana.gov digital service and other payment platforms, which experienced intermittent disruptions for nearly a week. These outages resulted in substantial financial losses and wasted time for users and businesses. The IEAG emphasized that many of these disruptions could be prevented or minimized with adequate investment in resilient digital infrastructure and supporting systems, including regular maintenance, reliable technical support, and effective contingency arrangements.

Therefore, the association has called on the government and relevant institutions to prioritize investment in digital infrastructure to improve public service reliability and payment platforms, ensuring Ghana’s digital ecosystem meets user expectations for efficiency.