Commissioner-General leads charge to transform GRA
The new Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Julie Essiam, is embarking on a mission to transform the institution’s approach, aiming to make it more taxpayer-friendly and collaborative.
In an address to Customs Officers when she accompanied the Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, on a working visit to the Aflao border post, Madam Essiam emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in GRA’s operations, moving away from a purely enforcement-centric model towards one focused on partnership and collaboration with taxpayers.
“Perception is people’s reality. That is why we are transitioning from an enforcement approach to collaboration and partnership with the taxpayer,” she said.
The GRA Commissioner-General outlined plans to enhance staff welfare and provide necessary logistics to improve revenue collection, while ensuring that taxpayers feel valued and supported by the authority.
She said this vision aligns with the broader efforts to increase revenue collection and meet the country’s developmental needs. A taxpayer-friendly approach, she said, would streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and ultimately enhance revenue generation for national development.
She said the GRA will be implementing strategies like public awareness campaigns to educate Ghanaians on the importance of tax compliance and how collected revenue translate into tangible improvements for their communities.
She said modern technologies to streamline and enhance GRA’s operations would be employed.
These include advanced data management systems, facilitating online tax filing processes, and equipping border posts with cutting-edge inspection equipment.
