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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is shifting focus to the digital economy in a new drive to widen the country’s tax base and boost domestic revenue.
GRA Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong announced the move, explaining that many businesses operating online currently avoid tax obligations—making the digital space a key target for improved revenue collection.
“Businesses instead of doing brick and mortar are running in the digital space, where buyers and sellers do their trade. We do have many businesses which are also showing up on other online places,” Sarpong noted.
He pointed out the growing presence of entrepreneurs and service providers using social media platforms like Instagram to run their businesses. “In Ghana today, if you want to find several service providers, you go to Instagram and you find them,” he said.
The GRA is responding to increased calls from tax experts urging the government to adopt more practical and inclusive ways to raise revenue. These experts have also recommended stronger enforcement of property rate collection at the local level and a greater focus on online businesses and app-based services that often operate outside of the formal tax system.
“How do we ensure that all of these people who are doing business are able to come onto the tax net?” Sarpong asked. “At GRA, we have already commenced a programme to bring on board the digital economy. Because it is the business of the future, and if that is the case, then the revenue for the future resides there.”
The GRA’s initiative aims to ensure fair contribution from the growing online sector, as the authority adapts its tax strategy to reflect changing business trends and future-proof Ghana’s revenue systems.
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