Stakeholders of Ghana’s maritime industry has waded into the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) exchange over alleged unsettled debt calling for swift resolution.
They fear further escalation of the situation could severely disrupt cargo clearance at the country’s ports. But, 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 further 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.
However, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), while speaking at the Association’s 11th Anniversary celebration and the launch of its new website, underscored the urgent need for cooperation between the two state institutions to avert economic disruption.
“Mr. Chairman, this development, as reported, raises serious concerns about data security and potential disruptions to critical services. The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana urges the leadership of the Ghana Revenue Authority to take pragmatic steps to resolve this issue amicably with the NIA,” Samson Asaki Awingobit said.
“This is especially crucial given the potential impact on businesses, particularly in the maritime trade sector. From a professional standpoint, if the NIA proceeds with deleting its data from the GRA server, it could severely disrupt port operations,” he added.
