GRA to increase tax component of GDP to 20% by 2020 - Kofi Nti

Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Kofi Nti has reiterated the Authority’s vision of ensuring that tax revenue contributes more than 20% to the country’s GDP.

Mr. Nti said even though Ghana performs better than some countries economically, it is worrying to know that the country’s tax to GDP ratio is lower than that of those countries.

He disclosed that, the GRA in the next four years hopes to achieve a minimum of 20% tax to GDP ratio by increasing the current 16% by 1% each year.

"In sub-Saharan region that we are part of, the tax to GDP ratio is 20%. We are at 16.7% as we speak. Our vision in GRA going forward is that we will do an increase of 1% per GDP per year," he stressed.

The Acting Commissioner-General insists that to achieve this, there is the need to increase tax compliance and it is for this reason that his outfit is embarking on a campaign dubbed #OurTaxesOurFuture to get people to appreciate the benefit of complying with their civic responsibilities.

"This national tax campaign is aimed at increasing awareness among Ghanaians about tax issues, enable us understand and appreciate the importance of taxes and the benefits to national development. The ultimate goal of this campaign is to increase voluntary compliance thereby increasing revenue collection for the country," he asserted.

He admitted, "While those of us at GRA concede that it is our ultimate responsibility to reach as many Ghanaians as possible, it is also an undeniable fact that all income earning citizens must become alive to their civic responsibilities. In the same way that we crave to enjoy the infrastructure and amenities provided by the state, we must also be equally prepared to contribute to the national purse from which such amenities are provided."

The Ghana Revenue Authority launched the 'National Tax Campaign' on Wednesday at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

The national campaign is expected to last for four weeks and will be characterised by a series of media and community engagement activities.