Revenue mobilised by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has risen to approximately $450 million a month, following the introduction of artificial intelligence systems to support customs operations, with the Commissioner General describing the results as "immediate and striking."

Anthony Kwasi Sarpong disclosed the figures on the sidelines of the West African Tax Administrators Forum, being hosted in Ghana.

"The Ghana Revenue Authority has recently embarked on a comprehensive modernisation of our customs operations, particularly in the critical areas of valuation and classification, and the results have been immediate and striking. By strengthening the accuracy with which imports are valued, and goods are classified, customs revenue collections have risen from approximately US$350 million to as much as US$450 million a month, an increase of some US$100 million every month," he told the gathering.

He attributed the gains to administrative reform rather than any new tax measures.

"That is the power of administrative reform: no new taxes, no higher rates—simply the fair and accurate application of the rules, supported by modern systems and professional integrity. I share these figures not as a boast, but as evidence—evidence that when political will, administrative reform, and digital innovation converge, African revenue administrations can deliver results that transform the fiscal destiny of nations," he said.

The improvement began in April, after government installed the artificial intelligence system to support the valuation of goods at the ports. Sarpong described the shift as a "game changer" for revenue mobilisation.

Background on the Forum

The 8th West African Tax Administrators Forum coincided with the 15-year anniversary of the association's establishment. Executive Secretary of the Forum, Jules Tapsoba, said the platform has supported many countries in enhancing their revenue mobilisation since its inception.

This year's forum is themed "Building Stronger Tax Administrations for Revenue Mobilisation and Sustainable Development."