By Adnan Adams Mohammed
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has officially launched an ambitious roadmap to mobilize a minimum of GH¢360 billion in annual revenue by 2028.
To bridge the current collection gap, the Authority is moving toward aggressive automation, including the nationwide deployment of physical monitoring devices at retail outlets this year.
The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, announced these targets during a three-day management retreat for the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) held in Sunyani. The retreat, themed “Transforming for Impact and Growth: Focusing on VAT Performance and Compliance,” served as a strategic pivot for the Authority’s 2026 operations.
Closing the 60% VAT gap
A central pillar of the GRA’s new strategy is the enforcement of the Physical and Electronic Devices Act. This legislation empowers the GRA to install monitoring hardware directly at points of sale to track transactions in real-time.
Commissioner-General Sarpong revealed a sobering statistic: the current VAT performance stands at only 40%.
“Out of every 100 potential VAT opportunities, only about 40% are being captured,” Mr. Sarpong stated. “We are determined to change that so that VAT becomes a key anchor in our national revenue mobilization.”
The automation process, which gained legal backing with the 2025 VAT Law, is designed to eliminate manual loopholes and ensure that every pesewa paid by a consumer reaches the state coffers.
2026: An internal push for GH¢230 billion
While the government has set a formal revenue target of GH¢225 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, the GRA management has opted to “stretch” its goals. Mr. Sarpong announced an internal target of GH¢230 billion for the current year, with the DTRD tasked to bring in GH¢163 billion of that total.
This proactive stance comes as global financial support for developing nations continues to decline.
“Global revenue support to developing countries like Ghana has dwindled,” the Commissioner-General noted. “It is imperative for the nation to mobilize sufficient domestic revenue to prosecute its development agenda.”
A call to civic duty
Beyond technology, the GRA is banking on public cooperation. Mr. Sarpong urged Ghanaians to view tax payment not as a burden, but as a civic responsibility essential for “progressive and sustainable development.”
Key directives from the Commissioner-General included:
For Consumers: Always insist on receiving a formal VAT invoice for every purchase.
For Businesses: Cooperate with the upcoming deployment of electronic monitoring devices.
For GRA Personnel: Maintain focus on weekly and monthly drives, emphasizing “unity of purpose” to meet the GH¢163 billion DTRD goal.
Revenue Targets at a Glance
Year Target Type Amount
2026 Government Target GH¢225 Billion
2026 GRA Internal Target GH¢230 Billion
2028 Long-term Minimum GH¢360 Billion
As the GRA moves to automate the retail landscape, the success of the 2028 goal will largely depend on how effectively the Authority can convert the “missing” 60% of VAT opportunities into tangible national revenue.
