The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched the GovTech Innovation Challenge, a new programme designed to drive innovative digital solutions that strengthen tax administration, particularly within the informal sector and the rapidly growing e-commerce space.Ghanaian Cultural Tours
The inaugural initiative, spearheaded by the World Bank in collaboration with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Geneva-based Trust Valley, seeks to connect government agencies with technology firms to address pressing public sector challenges through digital transformation.
Speaking at the launch, GRA Commissioner-General, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, said the Challenge aims to mobilize startups and small businesses to deliver practical solutions that improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen services. He stressed that the 2025 edition will focus on enhancing revenue mobilization by creating simple, smart tax solutions for the Authority.
“This initiative is expected to help us achieve our target of mobilizing GH¢360 billion in revenue by 2028,” Mr. Sarpong noted. “The Innovation Challenge offers a unique opportunity to strengthen efficiency in tax administration, especially within the informal economy. Already, a number of digital startups have expressed interest in participating.”
A Senior Public Sector Specialist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank, Shiho Nagaki, highlighted that Ghana remains a priority country for the World Bank and SECO in matters of tax mobilization and economic development. She explained that participants will have the chance to co-design and pilot real-world government solutions, access executive-level training in Switzerland, receive international recognition, and tap into the Trust Valley innovation ecosystem.Ghanaian Cultural Tours
Eligibility and Timeline
Trust Valley CEO, Lennig Pedron, outlined the participation criteria, stating that the Challenge is open to legally incorporated early-stage startups, scale-ups, and SMEs with fewer than 75 employees and annual revenue under US$5 million.
The application deadline is September 19, 2025, with pitch sessions scheduled for September 22–26, 2025. Selected proposals will be announced on October 3, 2025. Shortlisted participants will attend a bootcamp in Switzerland from November 11–14, 2025, and present their final solutions at the GovTech Conference in Geneva on December 2, 2025, alongside Trust Valley Day.
Trust Valley, a Swiss competence center for digital trust and cybersecurity, is leading the coordination of the competition, bringing together public authorities, academia, and private sector players to foster innovation and strengthen digital confidence.
The GovTech Innovation Challenge is expected to become a catalyst for modernizing Ghana’s tax administration system, expanding the tax net, and unlocking new revenue streams for long-term economic growth.
