Push To Exceed Revenue Target New Finance Minister Urges GRA

The Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to develop a structured roadmap for the effective implementation of tax measures in the 2024 Budget.

He also emphasised the need for coordination and clear roles to exceed the 2024 revenue target of GHcent;146 billion.

Dr Adam gave the charge in Accra yesterday as the newly appointed Finance Minister when he led a delegation from the ministry to engage the management of the GRA to discuss collaborative efforts to boost domestic revenue mobilisation.

The minister, accompanied by some of his directors, was received by the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, in the organization of the management of the GRA, including Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners.

The Finance Minister outlined three key priorities for the GRA under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility programme with the country as cleaning the taxpayer register by June this year, completing data migration from all existing portals to the integrated tax administration system (ITAS) portal, and operationalising major models for registration, returns filing and payments by December this year.

Dr Adam commended the GRA's performance of surpassing revenue targets in the previous year, but pointed out the untapped potential that could be optimised for greater achievements.

Pivotal

Acknowledging the pivotal role of GRA in the government's fiscal consolidation reforms, he said it was essential to work collaboratively to surpass the GHcent;145 billion revenue target outlined in the 2024 Budget.

The Finance Minister acknowledged the potential for further optimisation and stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to exceed the ambitious 2024 target of GHcent;146 billion.

Dr Adam, who previously served as Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy and later at the Ministry of Finance before being made the substantive minister last Wednesday, highlighted the crucial role of meeting those commitments in the success of the IMF programme and urged the GRA to work diligently towards achieving them.

He expressed his commitment to collaborate and support the GRA to advance domestic revenue mobilisation for the benefit of the country's economic stability and development.

After emphasising the crucial importance of domestic revenue mobilisation, Dr Adam also urged the GRA to advance the cause swiftly in a citizen-friendly manner.

Addressing concerns about the delayed implementation of some of the 2024 revenue measures, particularly the Value Added Tax (VAT) on domestic electricity consumption, Dr Adam stressed the urgency and the focus required for effective revenue generation.

He urged the GRA to leverage digital solutions under the government's digitalisation agenda and expand the electronic VAT (E-VAT) mechanism for enhanced revenue collection.

Dr Adam expressed concern about perceived corruption in trade and ports of entry, and announced his intention to visit the ports personally, with the aim of assessing and addressing issues first-hand.

He encouraged the GRA to instill discipline and minimize revenue leakages caused by misdescriptions, misclassification and other irregularities.

Exceeding revenue targets

Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu- Amoah assured the minister of the GRA’s readiness to support the objectives and targets outlined, including initiatives from the IMF.

He also acknowledged upcoming revenue initiatives for 2024 and reaffirmed GRA's dedication to their successful delivery.

Highlighting the impressive economic growth, Rev. Dr Owusu-Amoah said the country celebrated four consecutive years of economic growth, surpassing expectations, in spite of global obstacles.

"We have consistently exceeded expectations.

The GRA has successfully navigated obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing resilience in maintaining economic momentum,” Rev. Dr Owusu-Amoah said.

The Commissioner-General highlighted the commitment to addressing gaps in systems and fast-tracking processes, emphasising dedication to the goals outlined in the medium-term plan (MTP).

Regarding concerns about data privacy and information gathering, the Commissioner-General revealed collaborations with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to enhance the accuracy of data.

“The GRA is now one of only five African countries automatically receiving information from 70 countries worldwide, aligning with Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) requirements.

This accomplishment has drawn interest from other nations, with Rwanda seeking guidance from Ghana on satisfying OECD standards,” Rev. Dr Owusu-Amoah said.

He underscored the authority’s commitment to transparency and efficiency in operations and promised it will persist working towards national aspirations.

The Commissioner, Support Services Division of GRA, Julie Essiam, expressed enthusiasm for collaboration with the ministry.

"We are very excited and happy to work together. We are eager to collaborate further in achieving shared goals,” she stated.

Also, the Commissioner, Domestic Tax and Revenue Division, Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, indicated the readiness of his division and the GRA to mobilise domestic revenue for development and national growth.graphiconline