THE Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, says the time has come for the country to declare war against smuggling, counterfeiting, and revenue leakages, describing it as a threat that undermines national development.
He has, therefore, called on the private sector to collaborate with the authority to deal with the national canker and nip it in the bud.
According to him, the time had come for a strategic cooperation between both the public and private sectors in dealing with these challenges, which had become a bane of the country’s development.
“We are in a war against smuggling, a threat that undermines national development. The private sector cannot be left to fight this battle alone. At GRA, we are deploying a combination of intelligence gathering, satellite surveillance, and robust human resource strategies to curb these illegal activities. This collaborative effort is essential to safeguarding the integrity of our economy,” he said.
Mr Sarpong made the appeal when he led a high-level delegation to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana in Tema last Friday.
The visit formed part of a renewed drive to strengthen tax compliance and foster strategic partnerships with the private sector in the country.
It was also the GRA’s stakeholder engagement strategy to deepen mutual understanding with key industry players and promote a collaborative approach to tax administration.
The Commissioner-General emphasised the importance of strategic cooperation in addressing national challenges such as smuggling, counterfeiting, and revenue leakages.
Mr Sarpong used the occasion to announce the upcoming launch of “Sustained Tax Education,” a national initiative aimed at promoting voluntary tax compliance through public education and awareness campaigns.
The initiative, he explained, would focus on deepening citizens’ understanding of tax policies, obligations, and the benefits of compliance.
On his part, the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Mr Felix Gomis, welcomed the GRA’s visit and reiterated the company’s commitment to full compliance with Ghana’s tax laws.
“We appreciate this engagement with the GRA and value the opportunity to strengthen our partnership. Responsible corporate citizenship and support for national development remain central to our operations,” he said.
The visit highlighted the GRA’s commitment to proactive stakeholder engagement, in line with President John Mahama’s “Reset Agenda,” which prioritises business survival, job creation, revenue mobilisation, and sustainable development.
Mr Sarpong was accompanied by senior officials of the Authority, including Brigadier General Glover Anang, Commissioner of Customs; Mrs Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General; and Mr Eric Bonney, Assistant Commissioner, Preventive Customs Division.
The Commissioner-General and his team were taken on a detailed tour of the facility to gain firsthand insight into the company’s production processes and operational dynamics
BY CLIFF EKUFUL