The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, ISSER, University of Ghana has been tasked to track progress being made in the implementation of computerized tax collection systems by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and how that is impacting on the business environment and tax revenues. In the last seven years, the GRA has implemented the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) for domestic tax collection and the Paperless Port Systems for import duties, with the view of making compliance less expensive and in effect promote a friendly business environment. In partnership with the Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), ISSER is evaluating the progress made so far with the reforms, the challenges being faced and the ways in which these challenges can be overcome. ISSER’s team of researchers is led by Prof Felix Asante, Director of the Institute. Other team members are: Dr. Andrew Agyei-Holmes, Research Fellow, ISSER and Dr. Bernardin Senadza, Economics Department, University of Ghana.
In part these reforms are being sponsored by the UKAID. Beyond reforms at GRA, other institutions like the Commercial Courts (CC) and Registrar Generals Department (RGD) have also received similar assistance for reforms towards digitization of their activities. These CC and RGD are being evaluated by the IEA. The transformation, it is hoped will guarantee government revenue and also improve the ease of doing business for small and medium enterprises.
