Asantehene urges Ghana Revenue Authority to tax informal sector

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to expand its tax net to include the informal sector to boost domestic revenue for national development. Speaking during a courtesy call by the GRA Board and Management at Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene emphasized that Ghana should rely on internal taxation rather than external funding to finance its growth.

He noted that tax collection has historically focused on the formal sector, leaving significant economic activity untapped. To facilitate integration, he suggested that informal workers—such as mechanics, drivers, and hairdressers—could be encouraged to form cooperatives. He also urged the GRA to address existing tax leakages and adopt innovative collection methods.

While acknowledging improvements in revenue collection under the current leadership, the Asantehene stressed the need for stronger mechanisms to prevent revenue loss. GRA Board Chairman Ricketts Hagan stated that the authority is engaging stakeholders regarding ongoing tax reforms, which include the introduction of new systems like Publican AI to improve administration.