By Jones Anlimah
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has begun a leadership training programme for Senior Revenue Officers and Principal Revenue Officers of its Customs Division at Kpetoe in the Volta Region.
The training, which is being held at the GRA Academy and Training School, at Kpetoe in the Volta region, is to strengthen capacity, enhance inter-divisional understanding, and help promote voluntary tax compliance across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for the Support Services Division of the GRA, Dr. Alex Adomako Mensah, said the programme is designed to refresh officers’ knowledge and equip them with practical skills to improve service delivery.
He explained that the training also seeks to deepen officers’ understanding of the Authority’s structure and operations.
“GRA is one organisation… you need to understand the ethics and the values of the GRA,” he stated, stressing the importance of collaboration across its divisions.
Dr. Adomako Mensah noted that the Authority is shifting from enforcement-driven tax collection to a more customer-focused approach.
“Gone are the days when we force them to pay their taxes… now we approach them nicely,” he said, adding that taxpayers must now be treated as clients.
He emphasized that educating taxpayers on the importance of taxation is key to improving compliance.
“If they understand the reason why they are paying the tax… they will pay,” he explained, linking tax revenue directly to national development such as schools, roads, and healthcare.
The Commandant of the GRA Academy and Training School, Eric Boakye, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training programme, which combines physical fitness with academic instruction.
“Revenue collection is a very difficult task. It means that we need to sharpen the comprehensive human being, from the physical to the brain,” he said.
He added that participants will undergo both classroom-based learning and outdoor activities to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Mr. Boakye further indicated that the training aligns with the Authority’s goal of promoting voluntary compliance through professionalism and fairness.
“We need to approach our taxpayers… and treat them with respect and with diligence and ensure that everybody is treated fairly in a transparent manner,” he stated.
The training programme forms part of broader efforts by the GRA to improve efficiency in revenue mobilisation and support Ghana’s economic development.
