Ghana PAC Demands Enhanced GRA Tax Recovery Efforts

• The Public Accounts Committee has directed the Ghana Revenue Authority to intensify efforts to recover outstanding taxes from public institutions and businesses cited in Auditor-General's reports.
• The Electricity Company of Ghana was praised for repaying GH¢1.3 billion of its GH¢1.4 billion tax arrears to the GRA, following issues in the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report.
• The National Petroleum Authority reported that 93% of previously non-compliant vehicles had obtained required licenses by May 2026, with the remaining 7% suspended.
• The Petroleum Commission reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance, assuring that law violators would face appropriate sanctions, including administrative penalties.
• The PAC emphasized the need for greater transparency in tax collection, stressing that taxpayers should only pay what is legally mandated.

The Public Accounts Committee's directives underscore a heightened focus on fiscal accountability, urging the Ghana Revenue Authority to intensify its efforts in Ghana PAC GRA tax recovery from public institutions and businesses identified in Auditor-General's reports.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a directive to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), urging a significant escalation in its efforts for Ghana PAC GRA tax recovery. This intensified focus is aimed at outstanding taxes owed by various public institutions and private businesses, which have been specifically identified in the Auditor-General’s reports. The PAC has tasked the GRA with the critical responsibility of meticulously verifying these outstanding amounts and subsequently ensuring the collection of payments from the defaulting organizations, including prominent entities such as the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Water Company, and the Electricity Company of Ghana.

This call for heightened action from the PAC follows a positive report from the GRA itself, indicating that the authority had successfully surpassed its tax revenue target by the close of September. Despite this achievement, the committee's chairperson, Abena Osei Asare, while commending both the GRA and the Auditor-General for their diligent work, underscored the imperative for enhanced transparency within the tax collection process. She specifically highlighted that taxpayers should only be required to remit amounts that are strictly mandated by law. Officials from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) were also present at the hearing, with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and its associated agencies slated for future appearances before the committee.

In a separate engagement held on Thursday, October 15, the Public Accounts Committee convened with officials from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). During this session, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, provided an update on the progress made in addressing licensing irregularities within the sector. He informed the committee that, as of May 2026, a substantial 93 percent of the vehicles previously identified with compliance issues had successfully acquired the necessary licenses, while the remaining 7 percent had been placed under suspension pending their adherence to regulations. Mr. Tameklo also issued a public warning against the unlawful practice of siphoning fuel from tankers involved in road accidents, stressing that such actions are punishable by law.

Further reinforcing the commitment to stringent oversight, Nasir Alfa Mohammed, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, reiterated the commission's dedication to robust Ghana Petroleum Commission regulatory enforcement. He assured the PAC that any individuals or entities found to be in violation of the established legal frameworks would face appropriate sanctions, which include the imposition of administrative penalties. Meanwhile, Madam Judith Adjobah Blay, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company, addressed concerns regarding the company's unoccupied office properties located in Kumasi and Takoradi. She also detailed initiatives designed to promote pipeline safety awareness and to combat encroachment linked to illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey. Additionally, Madam Blay confirmed that the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) senior high school infrastructure projects are on track for completion by the end of the current year. The committee, in turn, advised the company's management to either utilize these vacant properties productively or consider their disposal if they are no longer essential for operational needs.

The Public Accounts Committee Ghana recommendations underscore a heightened focus on fiscal accountability, urging the Ghana Revenue Authority to intensify its efforts in Ghana PAC GRA tax recovery from public institutions and businesses identified in Auditor-General's reports. This push for greater fiscal discipline is exemplified by the committee's commendation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for its significant repayment of GH¢1.3 billion. This amount represents a substantial portion of the GH¢1.4 billion in Ghana Revenue Authority outstanding taxes that ECG owed, following irregularities initially flagged in the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report. The Electricity Company of Ghana tax repayment serves as a tangible outcome of the scrutiny applied to Auditor-General's report tax arrears Ghana.

The PAC's ongoing engagements, including those with the National Petroleum Authority regarding Ghana NPA licensing compliance, highlight a comprehensive approach to ensuring adherence across various sectors. The committee's emphasis on transparency in tax collection is a critical component of its oversight function, aiming to build public trust and ensure that all financial obligations are met fairly and lawfully. These actions collectively signal a strong governmental push towards greater financial probity and a more efficient collection of public funds, reinforcing the importance of compliance for all entities operating within Ghana.

Lawyers and compliance officers should advise clients, particularly public institutions and companies cited in Auditor-General's reports, to urgently review and address any outstanding tax liabilities with the Ghana Revenue Authority, as enforcement efforts are intensifying. Furthermore, entities in the petroleum sector must ensure strict adherence to licensing and regulatory compliance to avoid administrative penalties and sanctions.

Source: Original reporting via Carbonatix