Tax regime reform needed for innovative financing models — Vice-President

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says ongoing efforts to reform the country’s tax system are to foster public-private partnership and to seek innovative financing models.

“Ghana’s financial prosperity must be built primarily through our own efforts and resources; self-reliance is no longer an ambition, but an imperative,” she said in a speech read on her behalf at the graduation ceremony of 203 senior officer cadets of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Academy and Training School at Kpetoe in the Agotime Ziope District in the Volta Region last Friday.

The Vice-President, represented by her Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia, pointed out that the global financial landscape was changing drastically with uncertainties, while the recent stoppage of some international funding sources would have significant impact on African countries, including Ghana.

That, she said, required the development of home-grown solutions to national challenges, adding that it also indicated the need to diversify funding sources and strengthen domestic revenue generation.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the last general election gave Ghana a great opportunity to reset for a fresh start to restore good governance and set the country on a trajectory of economic transformation.

In that vein, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhance revenue mobilisation and the creation of an equitable and efficient tax system.

In the pursuit of that objective, the Vice-President said the tax exemption regime would be reviewed to promote transparency, economic growth, technology transfer and job creation.

The review would also rationalise port fees to boost competitiveness and maximise revenue while resuming the restructuring of GRA as initiated by the previous NDC government to improve tax administration and compliance, she said.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the true price of corruption was paid by the patient who had no medicine in the hospital, the child who attended school under trees and the community without roads.

She reminded the graduating officer cadets that they were not merely tax collectors but also ambassadors of Ghana to the world.

“Your daily interactions with traders and travellers will shape people’s perception on our country,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang added.

She explained that the uniforms worn by customs officers did not just represent the Customs Division of GRA but also the hopes of over 34 million Ghanaians who depended on their honesty and diligence.

The Vice-President said this year, in particular, GRA had the daunting tax to mobilise enough revenue to cover up for the deficits in funding.

She, therefore, urged customs officers of the GRA to deliver and exceed their target.

Staff strength

On staff strength, the Vice-President revealed that the Customs Division had only 2,635 as against an established staff requirement of 5,329.

“It is, therefore, a great joy to have these officers graduating today to enhance the staff strength,” she said.

She gave an assurance that the necessary steps would soon be taken to improve the staff conditions and adequately resource the Customs Division of GRA.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said reviewing the tax system would include enacting the Natural Resources Revenue Management Act (NRMA) to increase revenue from natural resources, including green minerals, and the Petroleum Revenue Management Act to maximise petroleum revenue development, in addition to other measures.

To achieve those measures, she said the role of GRA was crucial, as the revenue it collected represented the lifeblood of the nation.

Parade review

Mr Segbefia, who was the reviewing officer at the parade, congratulated the new Customs officers, and challenged them to distinguish themselves as the next generation that would transform the Customs Division into a model of excellence for Africa and beyond.

The fresh customs officers had undergone nine-month training in customs regimes and procedures, examination and classification of goods, leadership, basic psychology and fundamental officer training.

They also had practical lessons in transit cargo monitoring, weapon handling and firing, patrols, the use of the integrated customs management system, and defensive driving.

The Sword of Honour for the Overall Best Officer Cadet went to Christopher Dogbe, while Adelaide Abena Anyamah emerged the Best Female Cadet.