GRA Commissioner-General calls for stronger tax cooperation to boost regional revenue mobilisation

The Commissioner-General of Ghana's Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, has emphasized the need for heightened collaboration among African tax authorities to strengthen domestic revenue collection and foster lasting development. He highlighted that governments in the sub-region are grappling with mounting fiscal demands and debt risks due to escalating requirements for infrastructure, social welfare, climate adaptation, and digital advancements.

Sarpong made this appeal during the inauguration of the 8th High-Level Policy Dialogue and 23rd General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) in Accra. The gathering, jointly organized by GRA and WATAF, centered on the theme "Building Stronger Tax Administrations for Revenue Mobilisation and Sustainable Development."

Sarpong stressed that African nations must fairly, efficiently, and sustainably generate domestic resources to tackle their development financing deficits. West Africa experienced a 4.8 percent growth rate in real GDP in 2025, with projections of 4.6 percent for 2026, yet the region persistently confronts a substantial financing gap.

Sarpong encouraged tax bodies to broaden the tax base, legitimize informal sector activities, enhance natural resource revenue management, and bolster cross-jurisdictional information sharing. He affirmed that robust tax systems are vital for governmental capacity and the social pact between citizens and authorities, stating that equitable and trustworthy tax administration can spur development and strengthen business confidence.

Sarpong advocated for wider adoption of technology, such as e-filing, digital payments, electronic invoicing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, to boost compliance, uncover tax evasion, and expand the tax base. He urged tax administrations to establish robust institutions grounded in professionalism, meritocracy, integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Sarpong reiterated that enhanced cooperation, technological innovation, and robust institutions are crucial for enhancing revenue mobilization throughout the region.