Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, has launched two flagship initiatives by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Sustained National Tax Education Campaign and the Modified Taxation Scheme as part of renewed efforts to boost domestic revenue and stabilize the economy.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr. Debrah said government’s fiscal recovery agenda hinges on building a transparent, accountable and citizen-centered tax system. The initiatives, he explained are designed to enhance voluntary tax compliance and expand the tax net at a time when Ghana faces high inflation, mounting debt and constrained public finances.
He opened his address by reaffirming President Mahama’s directive to suspend all service agreements between the GRA and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) pending the outcome of investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. “Building trust is essential to sustaining any vibrant tax system,” he stressed.
Mr. Debrah emphasized that revenue mobilization is the “backbone of national development,” noting that, it is crucial for funding infrastructure, social programmes and ensuring economic stability. Under the leadership of Finance Minister Dr. cassiel Ato Forson, he said, the administration remains determined to “reset the country and restore fiscal balance.”
“We must move from seeing tax as a burden or inevitability to seeing it as an investment in the building of our nation,” he said. “We need to take the bold step of generating enough revenue internally to fund our development.”
The Chief of Staff acknowledged the persistent skepticism among citizens who often question, “What do I gain from paying taxes?” or “Why should I pay when others avoid it?” He urged the GRA’s education campaign to confront such questions directly and to foster confidence through two key pillars: accountability and public reporting.
“Tax officials must be stewards, not predators feeding on the sweat of taxpayers,” he said calling for transparent communication that clearly links tax revenue to visible outcomes such as roads built, hospitals equipped and security forces trained.
Highlighting recent gains, Mr. Debrah commended the GRA for exceeding its collection targets. As of September 2025, the Authority had mobilized GH₵130.6 billion a positive deviation of GH₵347 million against its pro-rata target. He expressed confidence that the trend would continue through to the end of the year.
The launch also introduced the Modified Taxation Scheme, which seeks to broaden the tax base by ensuring that “every taxable income must be collected.”
Mr. Debrah specifically urged the GRA to extend its operations to capture what has come to be known as the “night market economy” businesses that operate primarily at night and often evade taxation. This, he noted aligns with the government’s 24-hour economy policy, requiring tax officers to work around the clock to ensure fairness and inclusivity in the tax regime.
Concluding, the Chief of Staff called on all stakeholders to become ambassadors of the new tax education drive.
“This campaign is not just about raising revenue,” he said. “It is about raising awareness, raising responsibility and raising hope. Together, we can make this a cultural transformation, building a happy taxpayer regime.”
He then officially launched the Sustained National Tax Education Campaign and the Modified Taxation Scheme on behalf of President Mahama.
Story By : Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
