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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is expanding the use of data analytics in tax administration as it seeks to improve revenue mobilisation, strengthen taxpayer compliance and support evidence-based policy decisions.
The Authority said the growing complexity of Ghana’s digital economy makes the effective use of statistics and taxpayer data increasingly important to the future of revenue administration.
Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Elsie Appau-Klu Esq., made the remarks at the opening of the 2026 GRA Statistics and Data Analysts’ Seminar in Ho.
Speaking on behalf of Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, Appau-Klu said Ghana continues to face challenges in domestic revenue mobilisation, with tax collections still below the country’s potential.
She disclosed that only about half of expected Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue is currently being collected, while corporate income tax performance also remains below expectations.
“The traditional tools of tax administration remain important, but they are no longer sufficient on their own,” she said.
According to her, the expansion of digital transactions, mobile money, e-commerce and artificial intelligence is reshaping economic activity and creating new challenges for tax authorities.
“As the economy becomes increasingly digital, tax administration must become increasingly intelligent, responsive and data-driven,” she added.
The five-day seminar, held from August 18 to August 22 at the Volta Serene Hotel, is themed “The Modern Statistician: Driving Revenue Growth Through Data Analytics.”
GRA identifies new role for data analysts
Appau-Klu said statisticians and data analysts at the GRA must move beyond producing periodic reports and become more deeply involved in revenue forecasting, compliance management, policy development and strategic decision-making.
She identified four key functions for modern data professionals within the tax authority: detectives, risk managers, policy advisers and guardians of data integrity.
As detectives, analysts should use available data to identify economic activities that remain outside the tax net, uncover emerging business sectors and detect discrepancies between economic activity and tax performance.
This, she said, would help the Authority answer critical questions about where revenue opportunities exist, which sectors are underperforming and which taxpayers or activities may require greater attention.
Data to strengthen compliance and risk management
On risk management, Appau-Klu said the GRA could use analytical tools to identify high-risk sectors, unusual taxpayer behaviour and emerging compliance threats.
A data-driven approach, she explained, would enable the Authority to direct its resources towards areas with genuine compliance risks while avoiding unnecessary pressure on taxpayers who consistently meet their obligations.
She also urged data analysts to contribute directly to tax policy by measuring the impact of reforms, compliance initiatives and taxpayer education programmes.
According to her, policy decisions should be informed by evidence and measurable outcomes rather than assumptions.
“It is not enough to say that a campaign was conducted or that a programme was implemented. We must also be able to say, ‘What changed because we did it?’” she said.
Data integrity remains critical
The GRA official stressed that the value of analytics ultimately depends on the quality and reliability of the underlying data.
She warned that inaccurate or poorly managed information could undermine decision-making and result in ineffective tax policies and compliance interventions.
As the Authority expands its data integration and analytical capabilities, she said it would continue to prioritise taxpayer confidentiality, information security and responsible data management.
“The public must have confidence that the same technology that makes us more effective also makes us more responsible,” she said.
GRA targets predictive revenue intelligence
Appau-Klu challenged participants at the seminar to develop practical solutions that could be deployed before the end of 2026 rather than limiting the engagement to presentations and discussions.
She identified regional revenue intelligence, predictive revenue modelling and practical data-driven initiatives as three priority areas.
Stronger regional intelligence, she said, could help the GRA identify emerging growth sectors, detect potential revenue leakages and understand differences in the performance of its Taxpayer Service Centres.
The Authority also needs stronger forecasting systems capable of detecting deviations in revenue collections early enough for management to intervene, she added.
“Our guiding principle should be simple: no target without data and no decision without evidence,” she said.
She further noted that data analytics could support fairness in tax administration by helping the GRA focus enforcement on verified compliance risks rather than relying on broad assumptions.
Appau-Klu encouraged participants to strengthen their use of data visualisation and clear analytical reporting to communicate revenue trends and insights more effectively to policymakers, management and the wider public.
The push towards a more data-driven tax administration forms part of the GRA’s broader efforts to improve compliance management, regulatory intelligence and domestic revenue mobilisation as Ghana’s economy becomes increasingly digital.
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