By Jones Anlimah
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched the maiden edition of its General Competency Development Programme (GCDP) designed to strengthen the leadership, professionalism, and technical expertise of its senior officers.
The week-long training, which opened at the GRA Training Academy, in the Agotime Ziope District of the Volta Region brought together 90 senior officers across the country as first beneficiaries. The initiative will be institutionalised as an annual programme, targeting the training of more than 4,000 officers each year.
The Commissioner for Support Services Division of the GRA, Dr. Alex Adomako Mensah, emphasised that the programme is central to the Authority’s transformation agenda. “This training is not just a routine—it is a strategy, it is a delivery, and it is necessary. As senior officers, you are not just technical staff, you are leaders, whether by role, responsibility, or influence. Your conduct, performance, and mindset directly impact the image and effectiveness of the Authority… Change begins with you, and the time for that change is now,” Dr. Mensah said.
He stressed that the training will sharpen leadership skills, deepen knowledge, and strengthen service delivery, while instilling a culture of professionalism and accountability within the Authority.
The Deputy Commissioner in charge of Training and Development, Mr. Augustine Adjei-Sefah, described the programme as a milestone in GRA’s commitment to staff capacity building. “Support Services Division equally plays, and even more importantly, a vital role in the maximisation of revenue collection. We in Training and Development Department under the Support Services Division are tasked with building competencies for improved performance. This means with training, performance will be improved,” Mr. Sefah noted.
He further noted that training is key to advancing the GRA’s values of professionalism, integrity, and excellence, and aligns with the Authority’s 2025 theme: “Transforming for Impact and Growth.”
The General Competency Development Programme covers a wide range of modules tailored to the professional growth of senior officers. Areas of training include: Ethics, Values, and Code of Conduct for Public Servants, Essentials of the Public Services Commission HR Policy Framework, Customer Service: Excellence in Service Delivery, and Effective Office Communication (memo, letter, report, and minutes writing).
Others are: Understanding the GRA Human Resource Policies, Understanding the GRA Strategic Plan, Selected General Topics in Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) Operations, Selected General Topics in Customs Operations and Understanding Leadership: Positive Attitudes for Improved Performance.
According to the Authority management has committed to sustaining the programme until all officers within the target group—from Assistant Revenue Officers (AROs) to Principal Revenue Officers (PROs)—are trained.
The maiden edition of the GCDP signals a continuous professional development pathway within the Authority, which ensures that its officers are not only technically skilled but also well-prepared to uphold integrity, deliver excellence, and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s revenue mobilisation and socio-economic growth.
