{
  "id": 325759,
  "title": "GRA must tackle tax leakages and expand informal sector taxation – Asantehene",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/gra-must-tackle-tax-leakages-and-expand-informal-sector-taxation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T20:41:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/gra-must-tackle-tax-leakages-and-expand-informal-sector-taxation-asantehene/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has implored the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to enhance its efforts in incorporating informal sector individuals and businesses into the tax system to bolster domestic revenue for national development. While acknowledging the GRA's progress under current leadership, the Asantehene emphasized the untapped potential within the informal sector to expand the country's revenue base. Expressing concern over the ongoing reliance on external funding, Otumfuo stressed the need for Ghana to generate sufficient domestic revenue through taxation instead.\n\nTraditionally, tax collection has focused on workers and businesses in the formal sector, leaving significant economic activity in the informal sector outside the tax net. The Asantehene proposed that groups such as hairdressers, mechanics, and drivers could be encouraged to form cooperatives to facilitate their integration into the tax system. He also urged the GRA to explore innovative tax collection approaches and strengthen existing mechanisms to minimize revenue leakages.\n\nAcknowledging improvements in revenue mobilization under the current GRA leadership, Otumfuo called for intensified efforts to address remaining gaps. He commended the Authority's recent policies but urged further action to tackle the identified issues. The GRA Board Chairman, Ricketts Hagan, assured that the Authority is actively engaging stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of ongoing tax reforms, including the introduction of new systems like Publican AI to enhance revenue mobilization and tax administration. Hagan appealed for public support in the execution of these reforms.",
  "summary": "Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged the Board and Management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to intensify efforts to bring more individuals and businesses in the informal sector into the tax system to increase domestic revenue for national development. While acknowledging the progress made by the GRA under its current leadership, Otumfuo emphasized the significance of expanding tax coverage to the informal sector, which currently remains outside the tax net. He suggested that groups such as hairdressers, mechanics, and drivers could be encouraged to form cooperatives to facilitate their integration into the tax system. Otumfuo also called for the GRA to explore innovative approaches to tax collection and strengthen existing mechanisms to minimize revenue leakages, commending the Authority for improvements in revenue mobilisation while urging it to address remaining gaps. The GRA's Board Chairman, Ricketts Hagan, acknowledged the Authority's efforts to implement tax reforms aimed at improving revenue collection and tax administration, citing the introduction of new systems like Publican AI as part of these measures.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}