The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced plans to bring cryptocurrency traders under the tax net using advanced technology to track digital transactions. Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong explained that the initiative is part of efforts to align the country’s tax system with the evolving digital economy.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, Mr. Sarpong revealed that the Authority is collaborating with the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate cryptocurrency while ensuring existing tax laws are enforced. He emphasized that profits and gains made from digital assets are taxable under current legislation.
According to him, the GRA is developing systems that will enable it to monitor cryptocurrency accounts and identify individuals who profit from digital trading. The move, he noted, would ensure that traders are not left out of Ghana’s tax framework.
The Commissioner-General also highlighted that this initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen taxation in the online space. He stated that the new system will help capture value-added tax (VAT) on e-commerce transactions, just as it applies in physical shops. A pilot phase of the technology is expected to begin in September before being scaled up by the end of the year.
Mr. Sarpong reiterated that the government’s priority is not to introduce multiple new taxes but to enhance compliance with existing ones. He stressed that effective use of technology would help close revenue loopholes and boost tax mobilization without burdening citizens with additional levies.
