The Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, has revealed that a preliminary investigative report into a recent drug shipment controversy involving containers that departed Ghana has been submitted to President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Sarpong said the Authority was collaborating with the relevant security agencies to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the incident and contribute to efforts to address the concerns arising from the shipment.
He made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where questions were raised about the potential damage that drug related incidents could inflict on Ghana’s international reputation.
The matter was raised by the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso and Vice Chairperson of the Committee, Davis Ansah Opoku, who sought clarification on the measures being implemented to address the situation and prevent further reputational harm.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Sarpong described narcotics trafficking as a significant challenge for the GRA and called for a coordinated national effort to prevent Ghana from being exploited as a transit corridor for illegal drugs.
He disclosed that the Authority regularly intercepts narcotics and apprehends suspected traffickers at the country’s entry and exit points, although such operations are not always disclosed publicly.
According to the Commissioner General, announcing every interception could inadvertently alert criminal networks to the enforcement methods being employed, enabling traffickers to devise alternative strategies to avoid detection.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between the GRA and the security agencies in identifying suspicious consignments, strengthening border surveillance and tackling attempts to move prohibited substances through the country.
Meanwhile, the Authority has renewed its appeal to taxpayers to take advantage of the tax reliefs provided under Ghanaian law, observing that some eligible individuals continue to miss out because they lack adequate information about the available benefits.
Mr Sarpong said the GRA was intensifying public education to improve understanding of the reliefs available under the country’s tax administration framework and relevant legislation, including the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896).
He explained that the Authority was committed to helping eligible taxpayers understand the applicable requirements and access the concessions to which they were legally entitled.
The Commissioner General also addressed concerns relating to online cross border transactions and attempts by some financial institutions to impose additional percentage based charges on certain products.
He indicated that consumers were already paying the applicable 20 per cent charge, although some might not fully understand how it was applied. He added that the GRA was working towards formalising the arrangement to improve clarity and ensure that the relevant transactions were properly administered.
The developments highlight the Authority’s parallel responsibilities in supporting investigations into suspected narcotics trafficking, protecting Ghana’s reputation, improving tax compliance and ensuring that taxpayers are informed about their statutory entitlements.
