GRA hires data matching specialist to enhance technology in tax auditing

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Reverend Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has revealed that the GRA has recruited a specialist in the area of data matching and data analysis to ensure the right taxes are being paid.

This comes after the GRA and the Ministry of Finance jointly inaugurated a new Tax Audit and Quality Assurance Unit to ensure a centralized audit planning process and guarantee quality auditing.

During the launch of the unit, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah expressed optimism the new development will enhance tax collection in the country.

“One of the smaller units within that department is what we call the data mining and digital unit.

“In this particular unit we will have the data for our domestic tax, all the data for our customs side, we will have data linked to other government departments like DVLA and SSNIT and lands commission evaluation and all that. So we will use all these multiple data to accomplish what we call Data mining.”

“For example, if you own a Bentley and you are paying, for instance, Gh¢1,000 as your tax on a monthly basis, the data man will be able to match it and know that is the right tax to pay. So basically there is a lot of such analysis and artificial intelligence and we have actually recruited someone with that speciality in that area to do the data matching and data analysis and using artificial intelligence to be able to tax the taxpayer” he explained.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta for his part noted said the government is determined to deal with unprofessional auditors, hence the launch of the unit.

“Some auditors in charge of auditing jobs sometimes get away with unprofessional practices because no one audits their work when they are done, so many wrongs are buried upon the issuance of their reports never to be resurrected again, and we want to change that.

“So there should be an audit to audit the Auditor concept. Once they know their work may be reviewed, they will not compromise on the integrity of their work” he said.