The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, says the implementation of the revised Value Added Tax (VAT) regime is already having a positive impact on consumers, with prices of some goods and services beginning to fall.
Mr Sarpong made the observation while speaking to journalists during a VAT compliance monitoring exercise at several shopping malls in the Spintex enclave in Accra. The exercise was aimed at assessing how businesses are complying with the new VAT framework introduced by government.
According to him, the reforms are part of a broader restructuring of the VAT system designed to ease the cost burden on both consumers and businesses.
“We came to visit some of the shops to witness firsthand how the implementation of the VAT reforms is going. This is a comprehensive reform aimed at easing the burden on consumers and businesses alike,” he said.
The revised VAT framework includes a reduction in the VAT rate, the abolition of the COVID-19 levy, the removal of the VAT coupling mechanism, and an increase in the VAT registration threshold for small businesses.
Mr Sarpong noted that early signs from the monitoring exercise point to strong compliance among retailers, adding that shops visited had successfully adjusted their systems to reflect the new rates.
“This morning, we visited a number of shops and we are satisfied that those we inspected have adjusted their systems accordingly and are applying the new VAT rates,” he stated.
He also said interactions with shoppers indicated growing consumer satisfaction, as some prices have already reduced following the reforms. This, he explained, supports the Finance Minister’s earlier claim that the VAT changes could return more than GH¢6.5 billion into the pockets of Ghanaians.
“We have engaged with consumers and we can see their appreciation of the reduction in VAT. Those who joined us today witnessed firsthand how consumers are benefiting from the reforms,” Mr Sarpong added.
The GRA Commissioner-General used the opportunity to urge businesses to continue complying with the new VAT framework and appealed to consumers to play an active role by demanding VAT invoices for every purchase.
“For us at the GRA, we continue to appeal to businesses to voluntarily comply with VAT requirements, properly charge VAT and issue VAT invoices. We also encourage consumers to demand their VAT invoices anytime they make a purchase,” he said.
He stressed that tax compliance remains critical to national development, noting that effective revenue mobilisation is key to supporting government’s economic agenda.
Mr Sarpong referenced the President’s vision for 2026 as a year of growth, job creation and national transformation, saying these goals can only be achieved if both businesses and consumers act responsibly.
“When businesses and consumers act responsibly, together we can generate the needed revenue to support national development, reset the economy, create jobs and transform the country for the benefit of all,” he said.
Operators of the shopping malls visited during the exercise confirmed that their systems had been recalibrated to reflect the new VAT regime and pledged continued compliance with the reforms.
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