Accra, 10th August, 2021 – “The Ministry of Finance will support you as you go about creating a fit-for-purpose GRA capable of mobilising the needed resources to support Ghana’s transformation, thereby creating jobs for our youth, boosting economic growth and supporting the country's stability”.
These were comments by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta when he inaugurated a nine-member Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Board, which has Dr. Anthony Oteng Gyasi as Chairman comprises, Mr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Ansah, Madam Adelaide Ahwireng, Rev. Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei, Mr. Dela Obeng-Sakyi, Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari, Hon. Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, and a representative from Ministry of Finance.
Addressing them after administering the Oaths of Office and of Secrecy, the Minister told the members of the Board that work had begun feverishly towards the transformation and restructuring of the Authority. This, he said, would go a long way to minimise the bureaucratic processes, ensure compliance, and avoid the leakages in the collection of revenues.
He reminded Members that the Authority has been tasked with a collection of non-oil tax revenue of GH⊄57.06 billion for the 2021 fiscal year, representing 25.7% i.e. GH⊄45.4 billion growth over the 2020 fiscal year.
The Minister indicated that, government was mindful of the sacred trust that the nation has reposed on the GRA to mobilise the needed revenue for recurrent and capital expenditure of the state. There is therefore an urgent need on the part of the Board to marshal all resources to guide the top management of the Authority to achieve the 2021 Revenue Target, among others, the Minister added.
Mr. Ofori-Atta charged the Board to drive some of the policy and programmes which were initiated in 2020 and early 2021 including the GH⊄100bn GhanaCARES (Obaatanpa) Programme aimed to revitalize and transform the country over the next three years.
The Revenue Assurance, Compliance and Enforcement (RACE) initiative also aimed to provide an oversight role in GRA’s effort at taxpayer compliance, as well as the Introduction of the Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS), to widen the tax net and to ensure that all eligible taxpayers fulfil their tax responsibilities, among others The Board Chair, Dr. Oteng Gyasi on behalf of members of the Board expressed his deepest gratitude to the President of the Republic and the Minister for Finance for the honour bestowed on them to serve as Chairman and members of the Governing Board of GRA.
He acknowledged the strategic importance of GRA in the fiscal space of Ghana’s macro economy”, and added “we have duly taken note of the Minister’s message with keen interest, particularly, his call on the Board to take leadership positon in policy making as enjoined by the Ghana Revenue Authority Act”.
Dr, Oteng Gyasi welcomed the new members of the Board to the challenging responsibility to help grow Ghana’s domestic revenue collection amidst the covid-19 pandemic. He was optimistic that considering the diverse background of members, they are undoubtedly equal to the task and with collectiveness of purpose, shall deliver on their mandate.
The Governing Board of GRA derives its mandate from the Ghana Revenue Authority Act 2009, Act (791). The Board exists to ensure the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Authority. The Board mainly supervises and monitors the GRA in the performance of its revenue mobilization mandate. It is also the core mandate of the Board to make recommendation on tax policy reforms, legislation, treaties and concession to the Minister for Finance.
The inauguration was witnessed by Commissioner, Customs Division, Col. Kwadwo Damoah (RTD); Commissioner, Support Services Division, Ms. Julie Essiam. Officer-in-charge, Domestic Tax Revenue Division, Mr. Edward Gyambrah and Mr. Ernest Akore, Technical Advisor at the Ministry as well as other Officials of the Ministry of Finance. END