In the ensuing case between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) over unpaid service fees, GRA has clarified that the said past transactions lack the necessary regulatory and governance approvals required for payment.
GRA noted in a press release issued by the Communication and Public Affairs Department, that the so-called debt stems from a legacy arrangement made prior to 2025.
It, however, expressed surprise over recent media reports and public statements by the NIA which alleged that GRA was disconnected from the NIA’s Identity Verification System (IVS) due to unpaid fees. Emphasizing that, its operations are guided by transparency and compliance with governance protocols, in line with the current administration’s “reset” vision. As such, the Authority cannot act on transactions that fall outside regulatory frameworks.
The release also revealed that the NIA has long operated desk offices within GRA premises nationwide, registering individuals and issuing Ghana Cards without paying rent or utility fees. Despite this, GRA insists it remains committed to inter-agency cooperation and ongoing high-level discussions aimed at resolving the issue.
While GRA has identified procedural breaches and the absence of a formal service agreement, it reiterated its readiness to collaborate with NIA to integrate the Ghana Card into the tax system.
GRA concluded by reassuring taxpayers and the public of its unwavering commitment to fairness, integrity, service, and national development.
Below is the full statement from GRA:
5th August, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RE-NIA DISCONNECTS GRA FROM IDENTITY VERIFICATION PLATFORM OVER UNPAID FEES
The attention of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been drawn to recent media reports and public statements by the National Identification Authority (NIA), alleging GRA’s indebtedness to the NIA leading to disconnecting GRA from their Identity Verification Platform (IVS).
GRA expresses great surprise to the averments made by NIA and wishes to clarify the issue as follows:
• There appears to be a Legacy Debt inherited as a result of some services rendered to the Authority by NIA prior to 2025.
• From the GRA’s present assessment, there were no regulatory and governance
approvals for the transaction that created the purported debt. GRA’s principles of
transparency, compliance and governance protocols do not permit enforcement of
transactions that do not meet regulatory requirements, particularly as demanded
by the reset vision of the President and the Government.
• As part of the existing arrangements between the two agencies, NIA was allowed and had set up their desk offices at GRA premises nation-wide where they register individuals and issue them with the National Identification cards without paying rent and utilities to the GRA for years.
• There are current high-level discussions between the two agencies in resolving the
issues particularly where GRA has identified some procedural breaches and
cannot affirm the existence of a service agreement between the parties.
• GRA acknowledges the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving
national objectives, including the integration of the Ghana Card into the tax system.
In this regard, GRA extends collaborative hands to NIA while emphasing the need
to improve our cordial relationship and resolve matters amicably.
• GRA uses this opportunity to reassure taxpayers and the general public of its
commitment and adherence to its values of fairness, integrity, responsiveness,
service and teamwork.
ISSUED BY: COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
