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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening tax reforms aimed at plugging revenue leakages and narrowing compliance gaps across the economy.
Dr Martin Kolbil Yamborigya, Acting Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division, disclosed that Ghana continues to face significant shortfalls in tax collection, with an estimated income tax gap of about 67 percent—meaning only roughly a third of due income tax is currently collected—and a VAT gap of approximately 61 percent.
Speaking at the Executive Business Dialogue in Accra, organised by international consultancy firm Makers and Partners (MAP), Dr Yamborigya said the GRA is implementing targeted reforms to broaden the tax net and promote fairness. Key measures include the rollout of e-invoicing and the increase in the VAT registration threshold from GH¢200,000 to GH¢750,000 per annum, steps he said would ease the burden on micro businesses while encouraging voluntary compliance.
According to him, improving tax compliance is critical to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and reducing Ghana’s reliance on external financing. “If businesses willingly register and pay taxes as required by law, the country will be better positioned to generate the resources needed to meet its development needs,” he noted.
Dr Yamborigya also announced plans to launch a National Compliance and Enforcement Team to boost VAT collection and combat tax evasion. “The purpose is to ensure parity and fairness across the system,” he said.
The dialogue brought together business leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss tax and fiscal reforms, with a focus on building resilient and sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, Associate Partner–Advisory at MAP, highlighted the central role of SMEs in employment creation, innovation and economic growth. She observed, however, that SME tax compliance remains a largely untapped revenue source, stressing the need for stronger tax education and sustained stakeholder engagement to encourage voluntary compliance.
She added that MAP’s advisory, tax, audit and accountancy services are designed to help businesses navigate regulatory reforms while supporting long-term growth.
Professor Patrick Asuming of the University of Ghana Business School called for a closer examination of the 2026 Budget to ensure it promotes value addition and industrialisation. He urged government to leverage its procurement power to support Ghanaian-owned small businesses that are already adding value locally.
From a private sector perspective, Mr Ronald N. Bwosi, Group Managing Partner of Ronalds LLP, encouraged SMEs to take advantage of available tax incentives and embed compliance into their strategic planning. He noted that compliant businesses not only pay less tax over time but also gain a competitive edge and operate without fear of regulatory sanctions.
Atta Issah, a member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, acknowledged that unemployment remains a major national challenge, adding that structured reforms captured in the 2026 Budget are intended to strengthen the business environment and drive job creation. He described the increase in the VAT registration threshold as a deliberate move to encourage entrepreneurship and expand economic participation.
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