By Citizen Kofi Owusu
Columnist
As Ghana continues its efforts to recover from one of the most challenging periods in its economic history, public attention has largely focused on improving macroeconomic indicators, declining inflation, exchange rate stability and renewed fiscal discipline. While these gains have been driven by the combined efforts of government institutions and economic managers, another important story has been unfolding quietly within the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), where reforms aimed at strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation are beginning to yield measurable results.
At the centre of these reforms is the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, whose leadership has focused on modernising tax administration, improving compliance and strengthening institutional efficiency. Although revenue mobilisation is only one component of Ghana’s broader economic recovery strategy, it remains one of the most critical pillars in reducing dependence on external borrowing and financing national development.
Since assuming office in January 2025, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong has pursued an ambitious programme to transform the Ghana Revenue Authority into a modern, technology-driven institution. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as a tax expert, chartered accountant and former Senior Partner at KPMG Ghana, he has introduced reforms centred on accountability, transparency, innovation and institutional excellence.
His appointment came at a crucial moment when government sought to restore fiscal stability through increased domestic revenue generation. Recognising the strategic role of the GRA in achieving this objective, his administration shifted attention from simply collecting taxes to improving the efficiency of the entire revenue administration system.
One of the Authority’s key reforms has been the increased deployment of digital technology, automation, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence in customs operations. According to the Ghana Revenue Authority, the AI-powered customs valuation system generated approximately GH¢1 billion in additional customs revenue in April 2026, while improving valuation processes and reducing opportunities for revenue leakages.
These reforms are particularly significant because Ghana’s ports remain one of the country’s largest sources of domestic revenue. Improvements in customs administration directly affect government revenue, international trade and investor confidence. Through stronger risk management systems, enhanced cargo valuation and improved compliance monitoring, the Customs Division has consistently exceeded several monthly revenue targets.
Industry observers have noted that many of these gains have been achieved not through increasing tax rates but by strengthening compliance, improving enforcement and making greater use of technology. This approach seeks to broaden the tax net and improve efficiency while reducing the burden on compliant taxpayers.
Beyond revenue collection, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong has prioritised institutional transformation within the Ghana Revenue Authority itself. His administration has invested in staff capacity development, performance management, ethical leadership, taxpayer education and customer service, recognising that an effective revenue authority must build trust as well as enforce compliance.
His corporate governance and financial advisory background has influenced an approach that combines private-sector efficiency with public-sector accountability. Rather than measuring success solely by annual revenue figures, his reforms have focused on building systems capable of delivering sustainable improvements over the long term.
The importance of domestic revenue mobilisation extends far beyond the Ghana Revenue Authority. Every additional cedi collected contributes to financing education, healthcare, roads, agriculture, security and other critical public services while helping government reduce reliance on debt financing.
For this reason, institutions such as the GRA have become indispensable to Ghana’s long-term economic resilience. Their ability to mobilise domestic resources determines, in many respects, the country’s capacity to invest in its own development.
While Ghana’s economic recovery is the product of coordinated efforts involving the Presidency, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Ghana, the private sector and development partners, the Ghana Revenue Authority continues to provide one of the financial foundations upon which many of these efforts depend. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong’s leadership has therefore become an important part of the wider conversation about institutional reform and public sector efficiency.
Perhaps what distinguishes the Commissioner-General most is his quiet, results-oriented leadership style. Away from political headlines, he has concentrated on strengthening systems, embracing technology and improving accountability within one of Ghana’s most important public institutions. If the current trajectory is sustained, his tenure could become a defining period in the continued transformation of the Ghana Revenue Authority into a modern institution capable of supporting Ghana’s long-term economic development.
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