The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken a major step to strengthen technical capacity within its workforce, graduating 289 officers from its Professional Course in Taxation (PCT) as part of efforts to modernise tax administration.
The graduation ceremony, held at the GRA IT Training Centre, marked the completion of the 2025 PCT programme, a flagship training initiative led by the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) Technical Training Unit. The course is designed to equip operational staff with up-to-date tax administration skills, ethical standards and practical tools needed to operate in an increasingly digital global economy.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, said human capital development has become a core pillar of the Authority’s transformation agenda. He stressed that long-term institutional success depended on investing in people, noting that building human capacity today was key to sustaining the Authority’s relevance in the future.
He explained that training and development formed a critical part of the GRA’s people and culture pillar, helping staff respond effectively to evolving tax laws, modern auditing techniques and emerging compliance challenges.
Mr Sarpong said the programme was essential to the Authority’s mandate of mobilising revenue for national development, especially at a time when tax systems were becoming more complex. He challenged the graduates to become positive change agents in their respective roles, urging them to uphold professionalism and integrity in their dealings with taxpayers.
Addressing concerns about unethical practices, the Commissioner-General cautioned against any conduct that undermines public trust, including allegations of officers inflating tax liabilities to extort taxpayers. He noted that the actions of staff could either strengthen confidence in the tax system or damage it, and called on the graduates to protect the image of the Authority.
Providing an overview of the programme, the Head of the DTRD Technical Training Unit, Mr Lawrence Hotsonyame, said 289 out of nearly 300 officers who enrolled successfully completed the intensive course. He explained that the PCT was delivered in three phases, beginning with classroom-based theoretical training, followed by a two-month practical attachment, and concluding with a second semester focused on emerging tax issues.
Mr Hotsonyame said the unit’s responsibilities go beyond the PCT, covering basic training for new recruits, refresher courses for operational staff and specialised programmes for key sectors including mining, telecommunications, petroleum and transfer pricing.
He described the training as a strategic investment, adding that a well-trained workforce was critical to tackling aggressive tax planning and ensuring fairness and efficiency in tax administration.
Awards were presented to outstanding graduates, with Mrs. Esther Mills, RO (Revenue Officer), emerging as the Overall Best Student. Esther Mills, RO, joined the GRA in 2019 and is stationed at the Agbogbloshie Taxpayer Service Centre (TSC). Her achievement was praised as a strong example of dedication, professionalism and the impact of continuous capacity building within the Authority.