BudgIT Ghana unveils report on informal sector tax compliance
BudgIT Ghana, a civic technology and data advocacy organisation, in collaboration with the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the Society for Women in Taxation (SWIT) Ghana, will launch a major research report today, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Accra.
Titled: “Ghana’s Untapped Economy: Analysis of Tax Compliance Behaviour of Informal Sector Workers in the Greater Accra Region,” the report examines tax compliance patterns among informal sector workers, who constitute over 70 percent of Ghana’s workforce but contribute less than 2 percent to national tax revenue, according to data from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The launch event will bring together key stakeholders from the GRA, Ministry of Finance, metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs), academia, civil society, development partners, and informal sector representatives to discuss the findings and their implications.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the research identifies challenges such as limited understanding of tax obligations, enforcement methods based on fear rather than civic responsibility, gender disparities, and widespread mistrust in public financial management. These factors contribute to low voluntary tax compliance among informal workers.
Jennifer Moffatt, Country Manager for BudgIT Ghana, described the report as “a call to action for evidence-based reform that acknowledges the crucial role of the informal economy in Ghana’s development.”
“The informal sector is not invisible. It is vibrant, resilient, and central to Ghana’s economic life. Our research offers actionable recommendations to policymakers on how to build trust, improve compliance, and create a tax system that truly reflects the realities of all Ghanaians,” she stated.
The event will feature panel discussions, data presentations, and interactive dialogue between government officials, civil society leaders, and informal sector actors. Organisers aim to use the platform to shape inclusive policy strategies that address the needs of one of Ghana’s most dynamic economic sectors.
