The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) reported that its artificial intelligence systems identified customs undervaluation worth one billion cedis during April 2026. MyJoyOnline noted that the agency highlighted this figure during the seventh Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum in Jakarta. The event, organized by Indonesia’s tax directorate between October 13 and 15, gathered policymakers to discuss digital shifts in tax collection.
Elsie Appau-Klu, a technical adviser to the GRA Commissioner-General, headed Ghana’s delegation. During a panel on digital transformation, she detailed three key steps in the country’s reform process. These included launching a unified customs management platform in 2020, linking national ID numbers to tax records in 2021, and introducing a simplified scheme for informal businesses in 2025. MyJoyOnline stated that connecting the national ID card to tax records expanded the number of identified taxpayers from roughly three million to over 18 million.
The authority also cited electronic VAT invoicing and the Publican AI system as methods for improving compliance. Ms Appau-Klu linked the April revenue boost directly to Publican AI’s ability to spot undervalued imports. She noted that total GRA income hit 182 billion cedis in 2025, rising from 153 billion cedis the previous year, with a 2028 goal of 310 billion cedis. The new scheme allows informal operators to register using their national IDs and pay via mobile money.
While emphasizing digital tools, Ms Appau-Klu stressed that technology requires parallel investment in personnel. The GRA is retraining its audit staff to function as data analysts and risk managers, using AI to aid fraud detection. MyJoyOnline reported that she identified data security, privacy, and legal authority as critical safeguards. She also proposed shared standards for identity verification and AI governance, suggesting Ghana could learn from digital tax models in Brazil, Indonesia, and China.