GRA Boosts Customs Revenue to $450m Monthly via AI While Contesting GH"79.65m Judgment Debt

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reported a significant surge in monthly customs revenue, rising from $350 million to approximately $450 million following the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in April. Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong described the results as "immediate and striking," attributing the growth to enhanced valuation and classification processes rather than new tax measures. Speaking at the 8th High-Level Policy Dialogue and 23rd General Assembly of the West African Tax Administrators Forum (WATAF) in Accra, Sarpong emphasized that these administrative reforms are critical to closing the region's massive development financing gap, which now exceeds $100 billion.

Sarpong highlighted a pressing need for West African nations to improve domestic revenue mobilization, noting that the region's average tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.5% remains significantly below the continental average of 16.1%. To address the $100 billion shortfall required for infrastructure, climate adaptation, and digital transformation, the Commissioner-General advocated for broadening tax bases, leveraging technology to improve compliance, and managing natural resource revenues more effectively. He urged regional tax authorities to evolve beyond simple collection roles into strategic partners for economic development through cross-border cooperation.

While celebrating these revenue gains, the GRA is simultaneously engaged in a high-stakes legal battle to protect public funds from a GH•79.65 million judgment debt claimed by Servestar Minwax (WA) Limited. The dispute originated in 2009 over an alleged import duty overpayment of less than GH•1 million, but the figure has since ballooned due to a 35% daily compound interest rate. The GRA has successfully secured a forensic audit to verify the amount and is appealing a High Court order that directed the Bank of Ghana to release the funds from the GRA’s Tax Refund Account.

The GRA maintains that the Tax Refund Account is legally protected under the Revenue Administration Act and argues that the current claim is significantly inflated. Despite a previous setback in seeking a stay of execution, the Authority intends to renew its application in the Court of Appeal during the upcoming legal year. These dual developments underscore a broader institutional strategy under Commissioner-General Sarpong: leveraging cutting-edge technology to maximize revenue while aggressively litigating to prevent the depletion of the national treasury through disputed judgment debts.