Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has issued a statement following a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, and the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, over concerns about the Publican AI system.

At the meeting, the group presented four key demands: suspension of the Publican AI system, restoration of the existing appeals process with resolution within 24 hours, full disclosure of the system, and involvement in a proposed government committee only after clear terms of reference are defined.

According to the outcome, government agreed to revert the appeals process to the previous arrangement and ensure all appeals are resolved within 24 hours. It was also agreed that the terms of reference for the planned multi-party committee will be jointly developed with the Coalition of Traders Advocacy Group.

On transparency, the ministry said it would allow Coalition leaders to review the system, but declined to disclose full details of the entities and contracts behind the Publican AI system.

However, government rejected the request to suspend the system and instead encouraged the group to address concerns through the proposed committee.

The coalition welcomed the agreement on the appeals process but maintained its position that the Publican AI system should be suspended to allow broader stakeholder engagement.

The group has, however, suspended its industrial action pending its first engagement with the committee. It said its next steps will depend on the outcome of that meeting.

The statement was signed by David Kwadwo Amoateng, President of TAGG, on behalf of the Coalition of Traders Advocacy Group.