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Tag: Ricketts-Hagan

  • Tech reforms drive historic GH¢6.1bn revenue surge in July …Asantehene urges expansion into informal sector

    Tech reforms drive historic GH¢6.1bn revenue surge in July …Asantehene urges expansion into informal sector

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed 

     

    Tech-driven customs reforms have propelled the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to a record-breaking GH¢6.1 billion revenue collection for July 2026, even as traditional authority calls for broader tax net expansion into the informal economy.

    The milestone follows the full April 2026 deployment of the Publican Artificial Intelligence (AI) trade valuation platform. The modern system has boosted customs revenues significantly from a pre-deployment monthly average of roughly GH¢4 billion.

    Detailing the financial gains during a delegation visit to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, GRA Commissioner-General Dr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong emphasized the upward trajectory of national revenue mobilization.

    “The full implementation started in April 2026. So, between April and June, we are happy to report, and as the Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, also echoed in Parliament, that we are collecting about GH¢1.3 to GH¢1.5 billion a month in addition to what we used to collect,” Dr. Sarpong stated.

    “Before the implementation, we were collecting about GH¢4 billion a month. As of June, we were collecting GH¢5.5 billion. In the month of July, we collected GH¢6.1 billion, which means that our custom reforms are working,” he added.

    Expand Net to Informal Workers, Plug Revenue Leakages

    Welcoming the delegation, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, commended the revenue authority’s leadership for visible improvements in revenue mobilization while urging them to broaden their focus beyond formal sector employees.

    “The focus has always been on workers in the formal sector, while there are many others in the informal sector who can be educated on the need to pay taxes to support national development,” the Asantehene stated.

    To bring informal workers seamlessly into the tax fold and reduce reliance on external borrowing, the King recommended organizing informal operators into structured bodies.

    “Groups such as hairdressers, mechanics, and drivers could be encouraged to form cooperatives to make it easier for them to be integrated into the tax system,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II suggested, while cautioning that structural leakages must also be eliminated. “I have observed an improvement in revenue collection since the current Board and Management took over… Despite these gains, some leakages still exist, and I urge you to work at addressing them.”

    Stakeholder Engagement and the Next Phase of Reforms

    Addressing the Asantehene’s observations, GRA Board Chairman Ricketts Hagan reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and easing the adoption of new compliance platforms.

    “There are new systems, including the Publican AI, which have been helping our efforts. I’m sure you heard noise about not being able to comprehend, but people are beginning to understand the system,” Mr. Hagan explained.

    Building on its customs automation successes, the GRA is currently scaling its digital strategy into retail taxation. The next phase centers on modernizing Value Added Tax (VAT) administration using real-time digital integration and automated transaction recording across commercial enterprises nationwide.

    “That is going to be a game changer in our VAT administration,” Dr. Sarpong noted, citing recently approved legislative support for point-of-sale system integration aimed at securing a transparent, tech-driven business environment for long-term economic growth.

     

  • Mahama Ayariga: 5-term MP assumes majority leader position today 

    Mahama Ayariga, Majority leader in Parliament

     

     

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    In a first reshuffle of Parliamentary leadership on the majority side, Hon Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has assumed his leadership position as Majority leader today, January 23, 2025.

     

    He replaced the finance minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who has been the minority leader since the beginning of 2023 under the eighth parliament and majority leader since January 7, 2025, under the ninth Parliament.

     

    The five-term MP, representing Bawku Central on the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, eighth and ninth Parliaments comes to office with vast experience in Parliamentary business. In a statement issued to acknowledge his acceptance of the leadership position, the calm, unassuming but brainy legal practitioner pledged to draw inspiration from the legacies of former leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament as he assumes his role as Majority Leader.

     

    “I am guided by the illustrious precedents set by former distinguished leaders of our caucus. Twenty years ago, our current Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, led us. Then Hon. Cletus Avoka, Hon. Benjamin Kunbuor, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, and most recently, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson. Their leadership styles will remain guideposts,” Ayariga said as he affirmed the NDC caucus’s commitment to pursuing President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda to “reset Ghana.”

     

    “As Leader of the House and Leader of Government Business, I assure the people of Ghana that, consistent with the overwhelming mandate given to President John Dramani Mahama and the 187 members of this caucus, we will rigorously pursue the agenda to reset Ghana,” he stated.

    Mahama Ayariga

    Mr Ayariga also emphasized a commitment to inclusivity, consensus-building, and national unity, vowing not to abuse the NDC’s numerical advantage in Parliament.

     

    “As President John Dramani Mahama has said, these overwhelming numbers will not be abused. Even though we are an overwhelming majority, we will strive for inclusivity, consensus-building, and deeply uphold the principles of probity and accountability in the fulfillment of the dreams of our founding fathers. We will foster national unity, advance democracy, and ensure equitable development.”

     

    Mr Ayariga is expected to bring a fresh, pragmatic approach to leading the Majority Caucus.

     

    Over the years, he has earned a reputation as a vocal advocate for his constituents and a key contributor to legislative debates. His leadership style is anticipated to prioritize fostering unity within the Majority Caucus while advancing the government’s legislative agenda.

     

    The reshuffle has also significantly changed other key parliamentary roles. Cape Coast South MP, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, succeeded Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah as Deputy Majority Leader, following Buah’s nomination as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. Ricketts-Hagan, recognized for his strategic insights and leadership acumen, is expected to work closely with Ayariga to ensure seamless coordination of parliamentary business.

    Ricketts-Hagan, Deputy Majority leader

    Also, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament of South Dayi in the Volta Region replaces Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, as the Majority Chief Whip.

    Rockson Defeamekpor

    There is also speculation about a potential promotion for Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, the MP for Ada and current Second Deputy Whip. Reports suggest she may be elevated to the position of First Deputy Whip.